Why Is Dental Care So Important During Pregnancy?
Good oral hygiene can help to evade dental infections. Regular cleaning of the teeth and gums can keep gum disease at bay. Regular brushing and flossing of teeth are recommended by dentists. It is advisable to visit the dentist twice a year even if you do not suffer from a dental ailment.
Pregnancy and Oral Health
One of the best ways to prevent cavities among young children is to improve the oral health of pregnant women. Recent studies have revealed that pregnant women are more prone to periodontal disease. Sound oral health is an integral part of prenatal care and poor or unhygienic oral health during pregnancy might lead to poor outcomes of oral health of both the child and the mother.
During pregnancy, several hormonal changes increase the risk of periodontal infections, and that, in turn, can adversely affect the health of both the mother and the developing child. Before you get pregnant, it is better to visit the dentist at regular intervals. Deep cleaning can remove plaque and tartar. Professional checkups can ensure that the gum tissues are examined carefully. Such timely visits to the dentist can prevent oral diseases and also help in the diagnosis of oral infections.
Why Dental Care is Important During Pregnancy?
There is a direct link between gum diseases and the premature birth of babies. The study by the Journal of American Dental Association reveals pregnant women with chronic gum infection are 4 to 7 times more prone to deliver premature babies.
Often pregnant women experience lump or deep red markings inside the oral cavity near the upper gum line. These can be signs of pregnancy tumors and need immediate attention from the dentist. Although this growth is non-cancerous but needs to be treated timely.
Dental Care During Pregnancy
A recent study has revealed that almost 60% to 75% of women suffer from gingivitis, which is an early sign of periodontal disease. These women experiences swollen, red, and inflamed gums that are caused due to hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Leaving gingivitis untreated can be dangerous as the infection can affect the jawbones eventually. Once the jawbones are infected, the teeth would lose their roots as support. Premature teeth loss can affect your normal life adversely. Periodontitis can be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes including low birth weights and preterm births of children.
You can opt for a routine dental checkup anytime during pregnancy. But it is better to postpone the elective dental procedures until childbirth. You may opt for urgent dental procedures during pregnancy. Before you make an appointment with the dentist, it is better to check with your obstetrician in case you need to follow any special precautions or instructions.
You should be bare heart to your dentist about the doses and medicines that you are undertaking. You should also reveal the names of prenatal vitamins to your dentist as he might need to alter the doses or the medicines based on the reaction of the medicines that you are undertaking.
Modern digital x-rays are not dangerous during pregnancy. The dentist might perform digital x-rays or take 3D images of your oral cavity to get a clear view of the underlying conditions. The dentist would take utmost care to shield your baby bump and the thyroid gland during performing the x-ray.
A study has revealed that 40% of pregnant women are bound to develop gingivitis during pregnancy. You should pay particular attention to the changes in the gums or oral cavity during pregnancy. You should immediately intimate the dentist on observing any visible changes such as reddening of the gums or inflammation.
You should brush twice a day and floss at least once every day to eliminate the chances of accumulation of plaque. It would be good if you wash and rinse your mouth with an antimicrobial mouth rinse. Professional dental cleaning is very essential during pregnancy. You cannot stop the hormonal activity; hence it is better to opt for good oral hygiene and keep periodontal infections at bay.
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