Dental Care in Pregnancy: Do’s and Don’ts

Pregnancy and childbirth, both are undoubtedly the best thing to happen for a woman. Nevertheless, little do people realize the extent of changes this phase brings in the life of a woman. The hormonal changes which occur during this phase affect each and every organ of the body. Moreover, it is important for every organ to remain in its best functioning state so as to deliver the best results to the mother and baby. This requires some measures that need to be taken before and during the pregnancy phase.

One of the less talked topic but very important topic is dental hygiene during pregnancy. A healthy oral cavity means a healthy functioning body and this, in turn, ensures a healthy mother and baby.

When a woman is pregnant, her mind and body both are vulnerable. Therefore a lot of care should be taken while putting something into her body or doing anything on her body. For example, for a healthy individual pulling a rotten tooth is just ok, however, for a pregnant woman this is not ok. Antibiotics are ok for people suffering for various ailments, but antibiotics should not be administered into a pregnant woman.

Dental Hygiene While Planning a Baby

If you are planning a baby it is mandatory that you get an oral checkup done in this planning stage. Just a casual visit to a dental surgeon can point out any developing dental cavities or periodontal issues. Treatment prior to conception would be good for both, the mother as well as the baby.

Dental Hygiene During Pregnancy

One of the worst affected organs during pregnancy is the oral cavity. The increased hormonal levels make the oral cavity more susceptible to infections especially those related to gums. A regular visit to the dentist coupled with a healthy diet can help a lot in keeping the condition under control.

Dental Hygiene During Pregnancy: Things to do for Dental Hygiene

  • Brushing twice a day.
  • Rinsing after every meal.
  • Regular use of dental floss.
  • A regular visit to the dentist.

Diet for Good Oral Health

Foods you eat determines your dental health during your pregnancy. When you are pregnant, there are certain things that you cannot do with your teeth and gums, therefore, to keep your teeth and gums healthy you have to avoid certain foods and eat foods that keep your teeth and gums healthy. Food is the most important factor which influences the health of the oral cavity during pregnancy.

Avoid sticky and excessively sweet food that tends to increase bacterial proliferation. These include chocolates, pastries, and eatables with refined sugar.

Incorporate fibrous food in your diet. This includes radish, carrot, and other green salads. These are not only good for the body; they also help to decrease the plaque deposition.

Eat citrus fruits like oranges. These have vitamin C which is important for healthy gums.

Eat calcium-rich food which helps to make the teeth strong. If dietary calcium is not enough, calcium supplements can also be taken.

Taking Care for Developing Teeth

The teeth formation of the unborn child begins between the 3rd and 6th month of pregnancy. This makes it important that the mother has a sufficient intake of calcium, potassium, vitamin A, C, D, and proteins. In addition to this, vitamin B supplements help to rule out the possibility of cleft lip and palate.

Conclusion

The above factors clearly indicate a healthy mouth and a healthy body are very important to deliver a healthy baby. A balanced synchronization between diet and preventive measures can help a lot in maintaining good oral health. A mother with good oral health will definitely deliver a baby with strong and well-formed teeth.

Always remember that teeth might erupt after the baby is born but their development starts in the womb. Most of the people fail to realize this and hence the babies are born with compromised oral health.

One thought on “Dental Care in Pregnancy: Do’s and Don’ts

  1. That’s it, well explanatory article. If every organ in the body or features in the body isn’t at its best functionality it can affect other parts and makes us feel unconditional time. And that’s not good for a pregnant woman, carrying a baby in the womb, the pregnant woman should have every parts of the body to be at its best functions.

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