Pregnancy is a special stage in our patients’ lives and as Dentists we want to ensure that the mother’s oral health is guaranteed, promoting good oral health in the baby as well.
We advise our patients to schedule an Evaluation Appointment before becoming pregnant, in order to assess their oral health and correct complications or pathologies that may cause problems for both the mother and the baby.
However, at Prime Dental Clinic we guarantee that the treatments performed will never compromise the child’s health. In certain situations, the Dentist may choose to control a pathology while the patient is in the pregnancy phase, and then complete the treatment postpartum.
Even treatments using anesthesia are perfectly safe for the child and preferable to the possible transmission of bacteria by the mother.
During pregnancy, a woman undergoes major hormonal changes, which will have effects on the dentition, gums and facial bones. There will be a greater ease of bleeding in the gums and there is a greater probability of tooth decay due to the smaller number of meals that is usual and the greater salivary acidity due to vomiting, which can also cause the teeth not to be brushed.
Therefore, we recommend that patients have an oral hygiene consultation every 3 months. In addition to making sure that there is no bacterial plaque or tartar, it is possible to diagnose small anomalies in the patient’s oral health which, if not treated, could bring future complications to the child’s health.
Oral Hygiene consultations at this stage of the patient’s life will additionally serve to inform about all the care that must be taken with oral hygiene, nutrition and oral habits during this phase and the care that must be taken when the child is born.
Importance of Oral Health during Pregnancy
During pregnancy, all the health conditions and care of the mother will influence the oral health of the child, so with the body in a phase of mutation, all care must be doubled.
The presence of active cavities can cause certain inappropriate bacteria to pass to the baby, making it more likely to have similar complications at a younger age. Advanced periodontal diseases increase the risk of having a premature birth and low birth weight fetuses by 8 times.
To avoid further complications, in addition to those that the body goes through naturally during pregnancy, we recommend that pregnant women avoid excessive intake of salty and sweet foods, which have a greater tendency to cause cavities, brush the teeth more times a day and combine it with the use of dental floss and elixir and that as soon as they feel something wrong with their oral health, they consult their Dentist.
FAQ
Is it possible to realize any treatment during pregnancy?
Treatments performed at Prime Dental Clinic during pregnancy will in no way affect the state and condition of the baby.
However, it is possible that the Dentist may opt for a treatment that prevents the pathology from getting worse during this phase, to be completed after the child is born.
Pregnancy weakens the teeth which may cause more cavities?
No.
Pregnancy will not weaken the teeth, however there is a greater tendency to create cavities due to changes that take place in the body.
Vomiting and changes in eating habits require women to be extra careful with oral hygiene.
What’s the best time during pregnancy to schedule a dentist appointment?
Ideally, we recommend that our patients schedule an appointment for Oral Hygiene before becoming pregnant, and every 3 months during pregnancy, to ensure that there are no oral conditions that can be transmitted from mother to child.
Do gums bleed more often during pregnancy?
Yes, it is possible that hormonal changes make bleeding easier during pregnancy.
If this happens, consult your Dentist as this is one of the first signs of periodontal diseases, which when they get worse can cause a premature birth of the child.
When the child is born, which are the necessary cares to ensure his/ hers oral health?
Even before the first teeth come out, it is important to start with the oral care of the child, passing a moistened gauze over the gums with water at least once a day, preferably at night.
As soon as the first teeth start to emerge, they must be cleaned with the appropriate material and a dentist appointment must be scheduled for the first visit to the pediatric dentist.
Both in this appointment and in appointments before the child is born, the dentist will explain to the parents the entire process of oral growth that the child will go through, what care should be taken and how to help create hygiene habits that last throughout life .
Should baby teeth be treated?
Yes, good oral hygiene and treatment of baby teeth is essential to ensure the child’s comfort, the aesthetics of their smile and their future oral health. Their teeth are not only prone to getting cavities, they are more likely to do so.
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