Pregnancy affects nearly every aspect of women’s life, including her oral health.
Pregnancy can affect your dental care, and your oral health also may affect your baby.
Taking care of your mouth and teeth is important during pregnancy.
What are the special oral health concerns during pregnancy?
PREGNANCY GINGIVITIS:
Most women notice changes in their gums during pregnancy.
Gums become redder and bleed during brushing.
Some women may have severe swelling and bleeding.
All these changes are signs of pregnancy gingivitis.
This condition may start from second month of pregnancy. Severe effects may be seen during eighth month. The condition disappears slowly after the baby is born.
The reason behind pregnancy gingivitis is increased hormonal levels during pregnancy.
WHAT TO DO TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECTS OF PREGNANCY GINGIVITIS ?
Practice good oral hygiene.
Brush twice daily, at least for 2 minutes each time.
Floss everyday.
Visit your Dentist. Give him/her idea that you are pregnant. Ask him/her what special precautions to take during pregnancy to maintain good oral health.
Is it safe to visit a dentist during pregnancy?
Second trimester (4th, 5th and 6th month) is considered as safe period to receive routine Dental care.
Dental treatments are not done during first and third trimester. During first trimester, the fetus’s organ systems are developing, and fetus is very sensitive to influences from the environment. In last trimester, there is some risk of premature delivery.
But you cannot avoid emergency dental treatment like tooth pain, swelling at any time. In such cases you should go to dentist immediately.
The best way to avoid these problems is ‘go to a Dentist before planning for a pregnancy. And get all the necessary treatments done before pregnancy.’
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