What To Know About Pregnancy And Oral Health

As we age, there are fewer and fewer life events that bring true joy. One that is always exciting is welcoming a new baby into the family. Are you or a loved one pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future? While pregnancy is an exciting time of preparation and planning and many doctor’s appointments, it is extremely important that you continue to make your oral health a priority. You may be surprised to learn that pregnancy can negatively affect your oral health. Hormonal changes in your body can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Here are some helpful tips for each stage of pregnancy to ensure lasting oral health before, during, and after.

Prior to Pregnancy
While pregnancy can sometimes be unexpected, many people plan for it. In these instances, we recommend that the patient visit our office for an oral hygiene examination. During this appointment, we not only thoroughly clean their teeth, but we also look for problems that need to be repaired, such as decay and gum disease. There are certain treatments we do not recommend during pregnancy, and we prefer to perform them before patients become pregnant if possible. Visiting us before becoming pregnant also allows us to get a baseline for your oral health to help us monitor it during the pregnancy.

During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, it is important to continue brushing and flossing your teeth every day. We know this can be difficult if you are experiencing morning sickness, but not cleaning your teeth properly can lead to damaged tooth enamel and worn, brittle teeth. We also encourage you to continue to visit our office when it’s time for your next oral hygiene examination and cleaning. If you notice any problems developing with your gums, we recommend you visit our office as soon as possible.

After Pregnancy
Dealing with a newborn can be overwhelming. In addition to your regular doctor’s appointments, we recommend you still visit our office for your regular oral hygiene examination appointments. This is also the time to schedule any treatments you may have had to postpone during pregnancy.

If you are located in Kaufman, TX or the surrounding area and are pregnant or recently had a baby and have not had an oral hygiene examination in some time, we encourage you to contact our office to schedule an appointment. We are also happy to treat all members of your family, so we will be happy to schedule any appointments anyone else may need as well. We hope to see you soon!