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You are pregnant! Congratulations!
Cue: monthly doctor visits.
Everyone is measuring, checking, so focused on your belly, that it is easy to forget that you have other parts in the body, too! It’s almost as though people acknowledge your belly before they acknowledge your face, if you are new to pregnancy.
Even if the people around you forget to do so, you need to keep up with monthly check-ups for the rest of your body as well. Especially your teeth.
Obviously, you wouldn’t have some niggling pain or sharp sensations in your teeth, but did you know that a monthly visit to the dentist when pregnant is just as important as taking your pre-natal vitamins or checking in with your OB-Gyn?
You might think that healthy teeth are just as important as healthy levels of red blood cells, and you would be right, but it turns out that your monthly visit to the dentist has a lot to do with a healthy and safe pregnancy.
Blame it on the hormones. As the floodgates of estrogen and progesterone open, as a mom-to-be, you are at more-than-usual risk for gum disease gingivitis, and even pregnancy tumors.
We don’t want to scare you with words such as tumors, but we would certainly like to emphasize how important it is to make sure oral hygiene is a top priority while you prepare to welcome a new member to your family.
There are plenty of changes you make to your lifestyle when you find out that you are pregnant. You find yourself consciously heading for the aisles which carry the healthier foods at the supermarket. You start reading the nutrition values of every food that you consume. You become a fast-track professional at reading labels of ingredients. You dutifully take your pre-natal vitamins at prescribed times, and you have successfully cut down on caffeine and donated to your friends – who happily accept – bottles of alcohol.
But did you know that during pregnancy, oral hygiene consists of more than brushing twice a day and mouthwash? According to a research, expecting mothers who suffer from chronic gum disease are highly likely to deliver premature and/or underweight babies.
You don’t have to panic right away, just be aware of possible issues. Sore, red gums should be immediately checked out by a doctor. If you have any dental problems, be done with them before you plan your pregnancy. Else, make sure you get checked out immediately. Untreated gingivitis during pregnancy can lead to gum disease.
You may also spot a bump or bumps along your gum line. These are perhaps a harmless product of your hormonal flood gates. But have it checked out by the dentist to be safe and sure. Most such bumps disappear as suddenly as they appear.
Good oral hygiene is mandatory whether you are pregnant or not. To upgrade your dental hygiene, use a tube of toothpaste with fluoride, and also remember to floss. Although you are taking more vitamin supplements than you usually do, pregnancy can lower your immunity leaving you more susceptible to common dental issues such as plaque formation. Instead of brushing with toothpaste after morning sickness, try a mouth rinse of water and baking soda instead. This will take away the taste of nausea as well as protect your enamel.
You may have some concerns whether dental treatment is safe during pregnancy given lower immunity levels. But urgent treatments should never be ignored. Your dentist will advise you that dental treatment that can wait should ideally be done during the second trimester. Keep your dentist informed about your pregnancy so that the dentist and staff can take extra precautions while treating you.
Having health concerns checked out at the earliest is ideal for you and your baby. Pregnancy brings its share of discomforts, why add something else when there is help available?
