Do’s and Don’ts of Dental While Pregnant

Understandably, dental care might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re pregnant. But, it’s actually super important to keep an extra eye on your oral health as well as your overall health.

If you’re trying for a baby, consider the health risks that could come from not taking care of your smile and the knock on effect it could have on your child. You should even consider your dental wellbeing before you get pregnant. Here’s some tips to get you through pregnancy while keeping your smile in tip top condition.

Before Getting Pregnant

Before you start trying for a baby, you should make an appointment with your dentist to check that everything is as healthy as possible in your mouth. It might seem obvious, but many people don’t consider that they might need dental treatment during pregnancy.

If you have an issue that wasn’t found before you got pregnant, you might find yourself restricted as to how much treatment you can recieve when you are pregnant. So, it’s best to have any issues detected and treated before your pregnancy journey begins. 

During Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, you need to tell your dentist. You can still have routine check ups as normal – and we strongly recommend it!

Your dental checkups are more important than ever when you’re pregnant. You can still undergo many regular treatments while you’re pregnant such as dental x-rays, and your dentist will be vigilant to protect the abdomen area, so no harm is done to your baby. Advances in technology over the years have allowed for x-rays to continue throughout pregnancy.

Developing gingivitis while pregnant is very common, but that doesn’t make it any less of a risk. Changes in your hormone levels while pregnant can put your gums at risk of plaque build up and, ultimately, gum disease.

You can have gum disease treated while pregnant, but it’s better to do things like keeping on top of brushing your teeth to lessen the chances. Gum disease is so common during pregnancy that it’s often referred to as pregnancy gingivitis.

You should always call your dentist at the first signs of gum disease to get it treated straight away before it develops into a more severe form of gum disease. The classic symptoms of gum disease are bleeding, swollen, sore or red gums.

After pregnancy

Your oral health routine shouldn’t be affected by being pregnant. You should stick to brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and using mouthwash.

Once you’ve had your baby, your routine shouldn’t change. During pregnancy, you might have been extra vigilant to look after your smile. Keeping it up after pregnancy would be a wise move.

After all, you have a baby now! You don’t need things like gum disease to get in the way of your quality time.

If you have any concerns about your dental health during pregnancy, contact Woodborough House today to get a personalised treatment plan to make sure you and your baby are super healthy and happy.