Tips for Dental Care During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, maternal health is very influential on the condition of the baby it contains, including oral health. If not treated properly, teeth can cause general health problems, both for the mother and fetus. Diseases of the teeth and mouth, such as cavities and inflammation of the gums, are prone to suffer by pregnant women. The increased risk of tooth disorders in pregnancy is caused by changes in the body of a pregnant woman. In addition, nausea and vomiting commonly experienced by pregnant women can cause an acidic mouth condition, so that the cavities are easy and become a place for the development of germs. Increasing the hormones estrogen and progesterone can also cause inflammation of the gums.

Things to Look For Before Doing Dental Care during Pregnancy

Given the high risk of toothache during pregnancy, dental care is needed. If you are pregnant and want to undergo dental treatment, the first thing to do is to notify the condition of your pregnancy to the dentist. Information about your gestational age and the condition of your pregnancy will help the dentist determine the right course of action. In addition, there are some things you need to pay attention to regarding dental care during pregnancy, namely:

1. Consult your obstetrician first

Before visiting a dentist, you should consult with your obstetrician first. This aims to see if your pregnancy is in good condition and allows for dental care.

2. Routine dental care can be done during pregnancy

Routine dental care, such as cleaning teeth, can be done in the first trimester until the third trimester of pregnancy. In addition, emergency measures, such as tooth extraction may also be done during pregnancy.

3. The second trimester is the safest period

In the second trimester of pregnancy, pregnant women are in good condition and emotionally stable. Treatment that can be done is cleaning tartar (scaling of teeth) and dental fillings. Extraction of teeth using local anesthesia can be done, but it requires the approval of the obstetrician first.

4. Postpone dental care in the third trimester

During the third trimester of pregnancy, it's a good idea for pregnant women to delay dental visits until after delivery. In this trimester, the condition of pregnant women is quite sensitive, so some actions can trigger babies born prematurely.

Tips for Dental Care During Pregnancy

The lack of actions that can be done by a dentist during pregnancy can be a motivation for you to maintain dental and oral hygiene, so as not to experience toothaches. Below are tips for maintaining oral health during pregnancy:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
• Use a soft bristled toothbrush.
• Reduce consumption of sweet foods because it can cause damage to teeth.
• Drink plenty of water.
• If you experience morning sickness, rinse your mouth with water after vomiting and brush your teeth an hour after.
• Do not brush your teeth immediately after vomiting, because shortly after vomiting, the outer layer of teeth can become soft due to stomach acid.

Maintaining good oral health will help you through your pregnancy smoothly. Therefore, you need to undergo regular dental and oral examinations to the dentist, since you are planning a pregnancy.