Suggestions for addressing your pregnancy and dental work needs:
- The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends pregnant women eat a balanced diet, brush their teeth thoroughly with...
- Have preventive exams and cleanings during your pregnancy.
- Let your dentist know you are pregnant.
- Postpone non-emergency dental work until the second trimester or after delivery, if...
Why is dental care matters so much in pregnancy?
- Have a regular dental checkup. As soon as you’ve found out that you’re pregnant, inform your dentist about it. ...
- Give your teeth some professional cleaning. Studies show that this procedure is safe for pregnant women. ...
- Rinse with tap water after vomiting. ...
- As much as possible, avoid sugary foods and beverages. ...
- Continue your daily oral care routine. ...
Why is it important to see a dentist during pregnancy?
Why Is It Important To Visit A Dentist During Pregnancy? Don’t miss a routine dental checkup simply because you are pregnant. Regular exams are very important, now more than ever! Hormonal changes during pregnancy greatly increase the risk for periodontal disease and tender gums.
How important is dental care during pregnancy?
Dental Care During Pregnancy. Dental care during pregnancy is extremely important. From keeping up with daily oral hygiene, to monitoring changes in young mouth, the more in-tune you are with your oral health the healthier your baby will be. The Importance of Seeing Your Dentist During Pregnancy
What are the most common dental problems during pregnancy?
These are the common signs of a dental problem that you may come across during pregnancy:
- Sore gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Mouth sores
- A toothache
Can dental treatment be done while pregnant?
Dental treatment can be done at any time during pregnancy. However, the best time to perform elective dental treatment during pregnancy is in the second trimester, weeks 14 through 20. Keep in mind that if you have a dental infection or swelling, you might need immediate treatment.
How does pregnancy affect dental treatment?
Dental Changes During Pregnancy During pregnancy, hormonal changes can increase the acidity in the mouth, leading to an increase in cavities. This also can be due to an increased sugar intake caused by cravings and a decrease in attention to preventive dental care.
How should I sit at the dentist while pregnant?
Comfortable Positioning In The Dental Chair: To prevent this, the mother can have her right hip elevated and be leaned slightly on her left side with legs uncrossed. This will allow for proper blood flow.
What dental procedures should be avoided during pregnancy?
It is safe to perform routine dental treatment in the early part of the third trimester, but from the middle of the third trimester routine dental treatment should be avoided. The recommendations are: Oral hygiene instruction, and plaque control. Scaling, polishing, and curettage may be performed if necessary.
Do I need to tell dentist Im pregnant?
Dental Care While Pregnant. Tell your dentist (and doctor) if you are pregnant. Routine dental care can be done any time during pregnancy. Any urgent procedure can be done, as well.
Can I lay on my back while pregnant at the dentist?
If you do need dental work during the third trimester, don't lie on your back. This puts pressure on your vena cava nerve which can limit blood flow to the fetus and can make you feel dizzy or nauseas.
Is dental numbing safe during pregnancy?
Local Anesthetics During Pregnancy If you're pregnant and need a filling, root canal or tooth pulled, one thing you don't have to worry about is the safety of the numbing medications your dentist may use during the procedure. They are, in fact, safe for both you and your baby.
Can you have dental xrays when pregnant?
The amount of radiation used in a dental X-ray is very low and, according to both the American Dental Association and the American Pregnancy Association, is not enough to cause any harm to a pregnant woman or her baby.
How to get pregnant while on dental work?
Suggestions for addressing your pregnancy and dental work needs: The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends pregnant women eat a balanced diet , brush their teeth thoroughly with ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and floss daily. Have preventive exams and cleanings during your pregnancy. Let your dentist know you are pregnant.
Why do dentists need antibiotics?
Also, the more comfortable you are, the easier it is for the anesthesia to work. Dental work often requires antibiotics to prevent or treat infections. Antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin, and clindamycin, which are labeled category B for safety in pregnancy, ...
How to keep a baby comfortable after delivery?
Maintain healthy circulation by keeping your legs uncrossed while you sit in the dentist’s chair. Take a pillow to help keep you and the baby more comfortable. Bring headphones and some favorite music.
What antibiotics are labeled B?
Antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin, and clindamycin, which are labeled category B for safety in pregnancy, maybe prescribed after your procedure.
Is it safe to have a dental xray while pregnant?
According to the ADA and ACOG, having dental X-rays during your pregnancy is considered safe with appropriate shielding. Some women may elect to avoid dental work during the first trimester knowing this is the most vulnerable time of development. However, there is no evidence suggesting harm to the baby for those electing to visit ...
Does Lidocaine cross the placenta?
Lidocaine is the most commonly used drug for dental work. Lidocaine (Category B) does cross the placenta after administration.
Can you have a toothache while pregnant?
Toothaches in pregnancy and other dental needs. Dental work while pregnant, such as cavity fillings and crowns, should be treated to reduce the chance of infection. If dental work is done during pregnancy, the second trimester is ideal. Once you reach the third trimester, it may be very difficult to lie on your back for an extended period of time.
Why is it important to have a regular dental exam?
Now more than any other time, regular exams are important because pregnancy causes hormonal changes that put you at increased risk for periodontal disease and for tender gums that bleed easily, a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. Forty percent of women will develop gingivitis sometime during their pregnancy.
What to do if your gums are bleeding while pregnant?
Pay particular attention to any changes in your gums during pregnancy. If tenderness, bleeding, or gum swelling occurs at any time during your pregnancy, talk with your dentist or periodontist as soon as possible.
What does it mean when you have a lump in your mouth?
Pregnancy Tumors in Mouth. Sometimes a large lump with deep red pinpoint markings on it forms on inflamed gum tissue, usually near the upper gum line. The red lump glistens, may bleed and crust over, and can make eating and speaking difficult and cause discomfort.
What is a tumor in pregnancy?
A pregnancy tumor is an extreme inflammatory reaction to a local irritation (such as food particles or plaque). The tumors occur in up to 10% of pregnant women and often in women who also have pregnancy gingivitis.
How to treat a toothache during pregnancy?
Treatments may include antibiotics and excision of affected tissue . Managing Morning Sickness. If morning sickness is keeping you from brushing your teeth, change to a bland-tasting toothpaste during pregnancy. Ask your dentist or hygienist to recommend brands.
How to prevent tooth decay while pregnant?
Eating Right for Your Teeth and Baby. Avoid sugary snacks. Sweet cravings are common during pregnancy. However, keep in mind that the more frequently you snack, the greater the chance of developing tooth decay. Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Is it important to take care of your teeth while pregnant?
Johnson, MD on March 05, 2020. It's important for you to take good care of your teeth and gums while you're pregnant. Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that boost the risk of developing gum disease which, in turn, can affect the health of your developing baby.
Peculiarities of Dental Treatment in Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not a contraindication to dental procedures. However, it is important to take into account both the duration of pregnancy and the peculiarities of its course, as well as the overall health of the woman. There are a few peculiarities of treatment:
Dental Treatment in Pregnancy: Contraindications and Restrictions
A contraindication to any dental intervention can be the threat of pregnancy termination or premature delivery. Of course, if a woman is hospitalized and undergoing treatment to preserve pregnancy, oral problems can recede into the background.
Dental Treatment in Different Trimesters of Pregnancy
The specifics of treatment may depend on the specific gestational age.
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis determines the results of treatment, so it should not be neglected. Targeted dental X-rays may be contraindicated, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, when cells are susceptible to radiation.
Safe Pain Management During Pregnancy
Dental treatment during pregnancy involves quality anesthesia. For this purpose, the latest generation local anesthetics are used, which do not cross the placental barrier. Many formulations include a vasoconstrictor component, which increases the effectiveness of the anesthetic.
Peculiarities of Procedures
Tooth extraction is a surgical procedure. It is accompanied by a small amount of blood loss, as well as stress. Increased psycho-emotional stress is undesirable during pregnancy, so there must be strict indications for tooth extraction. To the extreme cases when you cannot do without intervention, include the following:
What happens when your gums are red?
Nearly 60 to 75% of pregnant women have gingivitis, an early stage of periodontal disease that occurs when the gums become red and swollen from inflammation that may be aggravated by changing hormones during pregnancy. 1 If gingivitis is not treated, the bone that supports the teeth can be lost, ...
Why is oral health important during pregnancy?
Oral health may be considered an important part of prenatal care, given that poor oral health during pregnancy can lead to poor health outcomes for the mother and baby. Protect Tiny Teeth. includes a mix of attention-grabbing materials to spark awareness that oral health should be part of prenatal care, and tips on how pregnant women ...
Can periodontal disease cause low birth weight?
Teeth with little bone support can become loose and may eventually have to be extracted. Periodontitis has also been associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. 2 However, how periodontitis may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes is not yet fully understood. A mother’s oral health status is ...
Is oral health part of prenatal care?
includes a mix of attention-grabbing materials to spark awareness that oral health should be part of prenatal care, and tips on how pregnant women and new moms can protect their oral health and the oral health of their infants.
Who is responsible for protecting tiny teeth?
Through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics worked to create Protect Tiny Teeth.
How to stop stomach acid from attacking teeth?
If you have morning sickness and are vomiting frequently, try rinsing with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water to stop stomach acid from attacking your teeth.
How to get rid of a swollen gum?
Brush thoroughly with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Flo ss between your teeth daily. Purchase products that have the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Eat a balanced diet. If you snack, do so in moderation. Visit your dentist regularly for a professional cleaning and check-up.
Is it safe to have a dental appointment while pregnant?
For most women, routine dental visits are safe during pregnancy, but let your dental office know what month you are in when you make your appointment. If yours is a high-risk pregnancy or you have some other medical condition, your dentist and your physician may recommend that treatment be postponed. Be sure to let your dentist know ...
Can you get dental care while pregnant?
The benefits of receiving dental care during pregnancy far outweigh potential risks. Be sure to keep your dentist informed of any changes in your mouth such as swelling, redness or bleeding .
