Pregnancy and the Dentist

If you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant then congratulations! I have had 6 favorite days in life so far, days where I just felt like I was walking on air and all other problems disappeared. 3 of those days were when each of my 3 children were born.

Lots of changes happen during pregnancy. The most obvious is that growing bulge in the midsection. Changes in your pocketbook and the color of the baby’s future room are just a few more I could mention. One change that you may not be aware of is the change that can occur in your oral health.

Pregnancy can actually cause an increase in gingivitis, the red puffy gums that bleed easily. This exaggerated response to plaque is caused by an increase in the level of progesterone in your system. During pregnancy, you may actually need to have more frequent dental cleanings to prevent this problem.

In addition to your own health, seeing the dentist before or during pregnancy might actually help the health of your developing baby. New studies indicate that women with severe periodontal (gum) disease may be at higher risk for preterm birth and associated low-birthweight.

Dental x-rays are always a concern during pregnancy and should be avoided when possible. However, when an emergency happens and x-rays have to be used, every precaution is taken to minimize exposure to the baby. A protective lead apron is used with a thyroid collar to protect mom and baby from unnecessary exposure.

Dental emergencies do happen during pregnancy and they are never fun. Just recently I had a new patient come in the day before a scheduled C-section with a painful throbbing tooth! She needed a root canal. Luckily, we were able to take care of her pain and she was able to enjoy the arrival of her new baby without a throbbing tooth. Waiting and watching on teeth that need emergency treatment is not always the best option during pregnancy because pain can cause unnecessary stress to you and your baby. If you are thinking about getting pregnant, see your dentist for a pre-pregnancy exam to determine if there are any cavities that can’t wait until after your pregnancy.

Now let me mention a few things about your future baby’s teeth. Your baby’s teeth will start to erupt about six months after birth. These will be baby teeth that your child will lose later, but they are very important for spacing, health, speech development, and normal emotional development. It is important that they remain cavity free.

These baby teeth are susceptible to cavities as soon as they enter the mouth and brushing should start with the eruption of the first teeth. A soft baby toothbrush and baby toothpaste without fluoride should be used until your baby can spit out on its own. Then you can switch to fluoride toothpaste. Early childhood caries (cavities) can happen when sugary liquids like milk, formula or juice come in contact with the teeth. Obviously, your baby needs to eat, but juice should be used sparingly. You should avoid putting your baby in the crib alone with a full bottle of anything but water. Bottles should be finished before going down for naptime or bedtime.

A new study also shows that a few applications of fluoride varnish on baby teeth can dramatically reduce the chance of those teeth getting decay. It’s a good idea to have the first visit to the dentist by your child’s first birthday. This allows the baby to establish a positive relationship with the dentist, we can check for cavities and apply fluoride varnish.

Here's to a healthy mother and baby!

Dr. Bell