Dental Care in Pregnancy
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Share with Women Share with Dental Care in Pregnancy Why is dental care in pregnancy important? Duringpregnancy, you are more likely to have problems with yourteethorgums. If you haveaninfection in yourteethorgums, the chanceofyour baby beingpremature (born early) or havinglow birth weight maybe slightly higher than ifyourteethandgums are healthy What is periodontal disease? Periodontaldiseaseis an infection in the mouth causedbybacteria.The bacteria usethesugar you eat to make acid. That acidcan destroy the enamel(protective)coating on yourteeth, which can causetoothdecay(cavities) or even tooth loss. Periodontaldisease can begin with gum swelling andbleeding, calledgingivitis. If it is not treated, gingivitiscan spreadfrom the gums to the bones that support the teeth and to other parts of the mouth. However,your dentist can treat periodontaldiseaseeven when you are pregnant. Why are pregnant women more at risk for periodontal disease? There are 2 major reasons women can have dentalproblemsduringpregnancy: Pregnancy gingivitis—Duringpregnancy, changes in hormone levels allow bacteria to growinthemouth and gums more easily. This makesperiodontaldiseasemorecommon when you are pregnant. Nausea and vomiting—Pregnant women may havenausea andvomiting or “morningsickness,” especially in the firsttrimester.The stomachacids from vomitingcan also breakdown the enamelcoating of the teeth. Is it safe to visit your dentist in pregnancy? Dentalcare issafe duringpregnancy and important for the health ofyou andyour baby. Your dentist can help you improve the health ofyourmouth duringpregnancy. Your dentist can also find and treat problems with yourteethandgums. What should you know before you see the dentist? r Make sure your dentist knows that you are pregnant.Ifmedicationsfor infection or for pain are needed, your dentist can prescribeones that are safe for you andyour baby. r Tell your dentistaboutanychangesyou havenoticedsince youbecame pregnant and aboutany medications or supplementsyou are taking. r Routine x-rays should beavoided in pregnancy, butitmaybenecessary if there is a problem or an emergency. Your body should be covered with a lead apron to protect you andyour baby. r Dental workcan be done safely at anypoint in pregnancy. If possible, it isbesttodelay treatments andpro- ceduresuntil after the firsttrimester. 1526-9523/09/$36.00 doi:10.1111/jmwh.12108 c 2014 by the American CollegeofNurse-Midwives 1 g Tips for Improving Your Dental Health or . What to do Why this helps Brush yourteethtwiceaday with a soft-bristled Regularly cleaningyourteethhelps to prevent plaque buildup, which causesgum toothbrush.Floss onceaday. diseaseand tooth decay. Useasoft-bristled toothbrush because your gums are more likely to bleed in pregnancy. Thisbleeding iscommon in pregnancy becauseof the changes in yourhormones, your bloodvessels, and the amount ofbloodyou haveinyour body. Usetoothpaste and mouth rinsethatcontains Fluoridehelps to remove plaqueandstrengthen enamel. fluoride. harewithwomen Chew sugarless or xylitol-containinggum 2 to 3 Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener.Unlike sugar,xylitol is not changed into acidby .s times a day. bacteria on the teeth.Chewinggumwithxylitol helps to decreasetheamount ofplaqueonyourteethand makes it easier to removetheplaquewhen www brushing. Rinse yourmouth with a teaspoon ofbakingsoda When youvomit,stomachacids come in contactwithyourteeth.Rinsing with mixed in a cup of water ifyouvomit or have bakingsoda changes the acids sotheydonothurt yourteeth. When youbrush morningsickness. If possible, try to wait one right after vomiting, it can causetheprotective lining of the teeth to wear away. hourafter vomitingbefore brushingyourteeth. Limit how much sugar you eat. Sugar changes to acid andplaqueonteeth, which can lead to periodontaldisease and tooth decay. When you eat sugaryfoods often,yourteetharemore exposed to damage. Choosenutritious snacks likerawfruits, Nutritious foods are healthyfor you andyour baby andcontain less sugar that can vegetables, yogurt, or cheese. damage yourteeth. Drink water or low-fat milk. Avoidbeverages that Water or low-fat milk hydratesyou andcontainslittleornosugar. are carbonated or contain a lot ofsugar,like sodaorjuice. For More Information American Dental Association: Pregnancy http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/pregnancy/ March of Dimes: Dental Health During Pregnancy http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/dental-health-during-pregnancy.aspx Thispagemaybereproducedfornoncommercialusebyhealthcareprofessionalstosharewithclients.Any other reproduction is subject to the Journal ofMidwifery&Women’s Health’s approval. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, the Journal of Midwifery&Women’s Health suggests that you consult your health care provider. American College of Nurse-Midwives 2 Volume 00, No. 00, xxxx 2014.