Tooth Tip Tuesday

Pregnant? Bad Oral Hygiene Can Lead to Complications in Pregnancy.

Pregnant women are very careful about their health as any activity could affect their unborn child's wellness. Extra precautions are needed especially when taking medications and medical procedures as these could bear side effects that are bad for the baby's health. Because of this, many have concerns on undergoing dental treatments during pregnancy. The following are dental care tips to help soon-to-be moms with their dental health choices.

"Bacteria from a mother's mouth can be transmitted through the blood and amniotic fluid in the womb to her unborn child." - ScienceDaily

Inform your dentist. 

The best thing you could do is inform your dentist about your pregnancy so that special procedures and or treatments could be made to ensure your health and that of your baby's. Also, inform your dentist of any medicine, prenatal vitamins, or any special medical advice that your doctor may have given and are currently taking. This will also affect the types of medicines that your dentist will prescribe.

X-Rays?

X-rays emit radiations that could harm your baby. It would be best to avoid it when undergoing dental procedures as much as possible. But in cases such as dental emergencies where X-ray is essential, your dentist will use extreme caution to ensure the safety of your baby. A blanket made out of special materials is used to cover the uterus to safeguard the baby from harmful radiation.

Maintain good oral hygiene. 

It is important to practice good oral hygiene because of the fact that the hormonal changes during pregnancy could cause gum diseases such as Gingivitis. Brushing your teeth after meals and flossing will help keep your gums healthy.

Tooth extraction and root canal therapy. 

Under local anesthesia, you can undergo dental procedures such as tooth extraction or root canal therapy without having to worry about your pregnancy, but please consult with your dentist or give us a call at 801-277-1412.

Anesthetics. 

Local anesthetics such as novocaine and lidocaine are considered safe and used widely by dentists on their pregnant patients and are preferred over inhaled anesthetics.

Avoid sugar. 

It is common for pregnant women to crave for something sweet. But being the number one source tooth decay, sugar should be avoided. Eating healthy is one of the keys to healthy pregnancy so be sure to eat balanced meals everyday.

Certain studies show oral bacteria are easily passed from mother to child, therefore it is important to never neglect dental care not just for you but also for your baby as well.

photo credit: rahego