It is important to ensure that you are caring for yourself during pregnancy for both you, and the upcoming baby. Your body during this time of your life goes through many changes that can make day to day life different; one of these changes relates to oral health. We will be going over how your mouth changes during pregnancy and how to care for it so that you and the baby can lead healthy lives overall.
Caring For And Preventing Gingivitis
One of the things that pregnancy puts women at risk of is called pregnancy gingivitis. The symptoms of gingivitis are the same whether the woman is pregnant or not, but the difference is in the way it develops. Pregnancy gingivitis is caused by the hormonal changes during pregnancy that increase blood flow to your gums. It is not uncommon that the gums will experience inflammation, tenderness, and bleeding, which are one of the few symptoms of pregnancy gingivitis.
If you are suddenly experiencing this, then you are at the early stages of gingivitis and it can be treated by visiting us. And speaking of visiting us, it is important to have a dental check-up twice a year–even during pregnancy.
Preventing gingivitis during pregnancy involves being on top of your oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day while flossing at least once will significantly reduce your risks of developing gingivitis. It is vital to both prevent and treat dental problems during pregnancy to ensure a healthy baby. Oral health problems that are left unchecked risk a preterm birth.
Part of your oral hygiene during pregnancy also involves eating healthy and fighting urges for unhealthy cravings. A well-balanced diet will leave you feeling better and will result in a healthier, happier baby. Choosing produce, keeping your sugar intake in check, and getting an adequate amount of calories throughout your day is key to keeping up on good oral hygiene.
Seeing Us
We recommend that patients come in for a check-up after a couple of months into the pregnancy; oral health problems such as gingivitis develop as early as two months. Ensuring everything is going well as well getting advice and recommendations in-person will start a road of a healthy pregnancy. If you would like to contact us to set up an appointment or ask any questions, you can call our office at 479.646.0706. Let us help you ensure that your baby is healthy and happy when the time comes.
