Dental Care During Pregnancy
Contents:
- Reasons Dental Disease
- First Visit to the Dentist
- Prevention and Treatment Dental Disease
- Teeth Care
Pregnancy and Dental Care
Some expecting mothers, who have experienced stress from visiting dentist in childhood, sometimes avoid meeting this doctor again. As a result, the teeth may decay and it may affect the growing fetus. Think about your health and the baby! Start visiting the dentist regularly and take care of your teeth at home.
Reasons Dental Disease
Many pregnant women complain of catching colds very often. The use of vitamins may be not enough for protecting immune system during pregnancy. Take a mirror and look inside your mouth. You can probably notice the signs of gingival inflammation (gingivitis) or tooth decay.
Problems in the oral cavity may increase the risk of various diseases appearing during pregnancy. This can affect the development of organs and systems of a fetus. The bacteria, which accumulates in the oral cavity, gets into the gastrointestinal tract. The immune system weakens and it may cause frequent colds, the development of cardiovascular diseases and digestive system disorders. It is better to overcome your fear of visiting the dentist and to maintain good health, than to loose teeth.
First Visit to the Dentist
It is recommended to take care of teeth before pregnancy. However, not all women follow this advice. It may happen that during your visit to the dentist in the first trimester of pregnancy the doctor can point out on some dental problems. What should you do? It is advisable to postpone any treatment with anesthesia.
Consult your doctor about the toothpaste, which can prevent tooth decay development. In cases of severe tooth decay and the necessity of pulp removal, the doctor should offer you the installation of temporary filling. In the first trimester of pregnancy, dental treatment should be gentle.
Prevention and Treatment Dental Disease
A very important procedure in dental care during pregnancy is dental cleaning. Commonly, the procedure lasts not more than 40 minutes. With the help of special equipment, the doctor removes dental tartar and plaque. After that, your teeth will be polished and covered with a protective lacquer. The surface of the teeth becomes clean and it protects teeth from bacteria penetration and tooth decay development.
Women, who use teeth whitening, are advised to postpone this procedure for the pregnancy period. There is a risk of enamel damaging during teeth whitening that is unsafe for pregnant women. Moreover, during pregnancy, your teeth may become more sensitive and the treatment can be painful.
The second trimester of pregnancy is a good period for treatment of light decay and gingivitis. By the second trimester the baby’s main organs have completely formed. The use of some medications in this period will not cause damage to a fetus.
In some cases, the doctor may offer you radiovisiographic examination. The use of radiovisiography is safe during pregnancy. The doctor can scan all areas of your dentofacial system and choose the most appropriate treatment. However, X-ray investigation or orthopantomography can be unsafe during pregnancy. You should consult your dentist for choosing the alternative methods.
You have had the teeth cleaned and have cured tooth decay. How to keep your teeth healthy after? Firstly, pay attention to your toothbrush. Choose a medium-bristled brush. It will protect the gums from bleeding and keep the enamel from being damaged. It is recommended to change the brush once a month. The dentist can help you to choose the proper toothpaste.
A perfect gadget for dental care is an oral irrigator. It helps to clean hard-to-reach spaces between teeth and massages gums well. It also prevents the gums from gingivitis, which commonly occurs during pregnancy. The cause of it is in hormonal changes. At the end of the first trimester, blood supply to the skin and mucous membranes lowers and it affects the gums. Contact your doctor if you notice your gums swell, bleed, or sore. The doctor may prescribe mouth rinses and ointments for the affected areas and the use of soft-bristled brushes.
Schedule your visits to the dentist:
- 1st visit: 6-9 weeks of pregnancy;
- 2nd visit: 16-18 weeks of pregnancy;
- 3rd visit: from 26-28 weeks of pregnancy;
- 4th visit: 36-38 weeks of pregnancy.
Teeth Care
Toothpowder Recipe
Take in equal amounts: calcium carbonate (chalk), sea salt, oak bark, garden sage, cardamom and cloves. Grind all the ingredients in a coffee-grinder. Add to the mixture a pinch of baking soda, white clay (you can buy it in pharmacy store), a few drops of peppermint oil or aniseed oil. Mix the powder and put it into a jar. Use this powder twice a week for brushing your teeth and massaging the gums. It will strengthen the gums, prevent gingivitis and tartar buildup. You will get fresh breath and healthy teeth during pregnancy!
Mouth Rinse Recipe
Prepare a concoction of bur marigold, chamomile, sweet flag and licorice roots. Put two tablespoons of the concoction in a saucepan. Pour two cups of hot water and boil over low heat for 15 minutes. Filter the concoction and dilute with water to get a full cup of liquid. Use after meals for treatment and prevention of gingivitis.