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Smile Ballard Dental Care Tips: Baby Your Smile During Pregnancy

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Congratulations, you have a baby on the way! Did you know it’s very important to maintain good oral health during pregnancy? Pregnant women with severe periodontal disease may be at increased risk of complications, including preterm delivery or increased risk of having a low-birthweight baby.

As you can see, dental visits during pregnancy are vital. Like you need one more thing to add on your list, right? Well, we at Smile Ballard are here to help!

If you are pregnant (or think you might be pregnant) and have a dental appointment with your Seattle Ballard dentist, it is important that you make our team aware of this right away.

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Here are a few reasons you should baby your teeth while you’re pregnant:

 

Dental X-Rays:

These can be delayed until after your pregnancy, but can be completed safely if there’s a possibility of an infection. Dental infections could pose a bigger risk than x-rays to the fetus.

 

Pregnancy Gingivitis:

Hormone levels are high and can affect your mouth. Your gums may be tender and will bleed a lot when flossing and brushing. Your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings to reduce the risk of a more serious form of gum disease.

 

High Risk of Tooth Decay:

  1. Morning sickness increases the amount of acid in your mouth, which could weaken your tooth enamel.
  2. Increased carbohydrates in your diet can be an invitation to tooth decay.
  3. Poor dental habits or lack of dental hygiene due to exhaustion, a more sensitive gag reflex, and tender gums can increase the risk of tooth decay.

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Medications:

If Dr. Curalli has to prescribe any medications, he may need to consult with your physician to choose the right one for you to safely take during pregnancy.

 

Finally, here are a few things for you to remember to make this a healthy pregnancy:

  • Keep up with your daily dental routine (floss once and brush twice a day).
  • Eat nutritious and well-balanced foods. You will have the urge to snack constantly, especially on foods that are high in carbs, so try to choose foods such as raw fruits and vegetables and dairy products.
  • If you have morning sickness and are vomiting frequently, don’t brush right away; you could be scrubbing stomach acids on your enamel. Instead, rinse with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water to prevent stomach acid from attacking your teeth.

 

Contact us at Smile Ballard at 206-784-6310 to schedule your next dental appointment and to help ensure that you and your baby will have a healthy, happy nine months!

 

Subscribe to our blog to get future articles on how to care for your baby’s teeth!

 

One thought on “Smile Ballard Dental Care Tips: Baby Your Smile During Pregnancy
  1. Must brush for two minutes, twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss every day. Eat healthy foods and follow your physician’s advice about diet. When you need a snack, choose foods that are low in sugar and nutritious, such as raw fruits and vegetables, yogurt, or cheese. Visit your dentist. For most women, routine dental visits are safe during pregnancy.

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