During pregnancy, the body goes through a lot of changes and it is important to take the necessary steps to remain healthy. Here are some tips to help expecting mothers stay dentally healthy:
Increase your calcium intake
The food you eat while pregnant affects you (and your baby’s) dental well-being. The more calcium you take, the better for the development of your baby’s teeth and bones. Sufficient calcium also helps you avoid osteoporosis (abnormal loss of bone tissue).
Foods like milk, yogurt, cheese, and almonds are good sources of calcium.
Floss daily
During pregnancy, your body undergoes some hormonal changes that expose you to certain dental health problems. One of the most prominent is gingivitis (gum inflammation) and periodontitis (gum disease). As a matter of fact, 40% of women will struggle with gingivitis during pregnancy.
Daily flossing helps to prevent this. By removing food particles and germs from your mouth regularly, you reduce the chances of plaque buildup (plaque is the leading cause of gum infections).
Never brush your teeth immediately after morning sickness
Morning sickness is a normal part of pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. After throwing up, your next instinct may be to brush; don’t! Here’s why: vomiting causes acid from your stomach to stick to your teeth and if you brush up immediately after, you’re basically rubbing acid into your enamel. This erodes your enamel gradually, leaving your teeth unprotected.
A good alternative would be to rinse your mouth out with water and baking soda. You can brush up an hour later.
Because of everything going on during pregnancy, most people forget how important pre-natal dental healthcare is. It not only affects the mother; but the child’s health is affected too.
If you have not been taking good care of your teeth during and after your pregnancy, you may be in danger and you need to visit a dentist immediately. If you live in the Texas area, please visit Texas Premier Dental at 13203 Fry Road #500, Cypress, Texas, 77433. You can also reach us at (281)206-0100 to schedule a consultation.