Dental Care During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting time - with the anticipation of an addition to your family, you've got your ultrasounds booked, appointments with your family doctor and specialists and you might also be busy preparing the home for your new baby.

With the hormonal fluctuations during these 9 months, many soon-to-be-moms are informed about potential changes to their bodies and what they could expect:

* fatigue

* increased frequency for urination

* morning sickness

* etc.

What you should be aware of is that your oral health can also be influenced by these hormonal factors.  During pregnancy, some women experience:

* sensitive, tender, bleeding and/or swollen gums

* higher caries risks due to frequent snacking

* higher susceptibility towards plaque build-up

* potential dental erosion from morning sickness 

Good news is that, there are steps you can take to at least minimize the damage and to maintain adequate oral health.

To begin with, it's a good idea to get a thorough dental examination and have the recommended follow ups before getting pregnant.   That way, if you need x-ray(s), prescription(s), and or something like TENSing, you can do so, without worrying about its impact on a growing fetus.

If you're already pregnant, maintain excellent oral health care as much as possible - that means brushing twice a day for 2 minutes each time, flossing, rinsing with alcohol-free mouthwash and increase the frequency of your dental hygiene visits.  Since the changes in hormones can affect the balance of bacteria in your mouth, consistent brushing/flossing/rinsing can keep the bad guys under control and showing up for professional cleaning every 3-4 months will allow us to keep an eye on any potential gum flare-ups and/or developing decay.  

For morning sickness, it's very important to rinse your mouth after because you don't want the stomach acids to harm your teeth.  

At any time during the pregnancy, if a dental emergency situation should arise, book an examination right away - e.g. swelling, painful infection.  Otherwise, depending on the situation, you can postpone elective treatments until after delivery. 

Call our office to schedule an appointment (416) 226-6688.