Why Pregnancy is the Best Time to Invest in Your Dental Health

Although many people neglect to look after their teeth during adulthood, dental care is especially important for pregnant women.

When pregnant, you are more susceptible to dental diseases and issues, some of which can affect the health of your unborn child. It is vital to look after your dental hygiene, even if you have not done so before, to reduce the risk of dental problems disrupting your pregnancy.

Dental Problems During Pregnancy

Gum Disease: Gum disease is the most common dental problem during pregnancy. The increased hormones flooding your body when you are pregnant can lead to gum inflammation and swelling, which may also cause bleeding. If this is untreated, the problems could continue past pregnancy.

Additionally, if you have gum disease while pregnant, it has been shown that there is an increased risk of premature birth. Babies born prematurely can have numerous issues such as poor eyesight and long-term health conditions like asthma.

Morning Sickness: Morning sickness and acid reflux can increase your risk of tooth decay. This is because the pH rises in your mouth each time that you vomit – this acid can attack your teeth if you do not take preventative measures.

Therefore, you should ensure that you keep regular dental routines throughout your pregnancy. If you do vomit, then you should wash your mouth out with water straight away to dilute the acid in your mouth and wait for an hour until you brush your teeth, as this can allow the acid to spread.

Cravings: The extra calories that you consume during pregnancy can be in the form of cravings for substances such as sugary snacks. If you are consuming more sugar, this sugar increases the acid on your teeth and can lead to enamel erosion and tooth decay. To prevent this, you should be aware of the snacks you are consuming, and replace high sugar content snacks with healthy foods such as vegetables.

Regular Dental Visits

Pregnancy is also an excellent time to begin visiting the dentist regularly, if you do not do so already. Pregnant women in Australia do not have to go on the waiting list for public dentists and will be given the next available appointment.

Although check-up costs vary, visiting the dentist is a good idea to find early problems and get advice on how best to care for your dental health. Going to the appointments frequently will also begin the routine of going to the dentist that you will need to follow when your child is born, as soon as their first tooth appears. For instance, the Acacia Dental Group is a dentist in Woden, which can provide a range of services from general check-ups to more specialised procedures. What’s more, they are a family dentistry, perfect for a growing family.

Visiting a good dentist is vital to maintaining both yours and your child’s dental health. Plus, with common dental problems that may arise throughout your pregnancy, it is vital to have a dentist on standby.

What You can do to Prevent Problems

For many people, the exhaustion and tender gums that occur while pregnant can prevent them from completing their usual dental routines. However, to maintain healthy teeth, you should stick to a rigorous health routine by brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice daily. This should be done for at least two minutes each time, and doing this will go a long way to prevent dental problems throughout your pregnancy.

Article from C Trehearn