A
few weeks ago, one of my best friends called me to announce that her
and her husband were expecting! I am so thrilled for them both and know
that they'll be wonderful parents to a beautiful baby! The next day, I
went to work and had several patients who were also expecting mothers. I
asked them what they thought was important for an expecting mother to
know and they both mentioned how different their oral health has been
since the start of their pregnancy. With that, I wanted to dedicate this
article to our patients who are expecting mothers...
A baby's on the way! There are so many things that you have to
prepare for! But it's incredibly important to not forget about your oral
health during this important time. The hormonal changes that occur
during pregnancy often contributes to higher risks of
gingivitis (inflammation
of the gums), causing the gums to become very swollen and tender. As a
result, the gums may bleed when brushing and/or flossing. But do not
become discouraged, it's important to continue your regular regimen of
brushing/flossing in order to prevent the gum inflammation from
progressing! At our office, if we see a patient who displays signs of
progressive gingivitis, we may invite them to come back for more
frequent cleanings (i.e. every 3-4 months instead) during and shortly
after their pregnancy.
Pregnancy tumors are
little "bumps" that appear along your gumline between teeth. They are
completely benign (i.e. not cancerous) but they bleed a bit easier when
disturbed with eating/brushing/flossing. Often times we keep a careful
watch of these pregnancy tumors; however, if they become bothersome to
you, you might ask your dentist about having them removed which can be
easily, gently done under local anesthesia.
Share the news!
When you see your dentist, be sure to let them know about your
wonderful news. Often times, it changes the types of medication we would
prescribe to you (many medications are not to be take by a pregnant
woman) or even the treatment (i.e. we may break longer appointments down
to shorter ones, making it more comfortable).
X-rays
are usually limited during pregnancy, but if there is treatment that
needs to be done to prevent pain, infection or any distress during your
pregnancy, we may need to take an x-ray to make sure we get the best
outcome. When taking x-rays, we make sure to use digital x-rays and to
use
two lead aprons in order to limit the amount of exposure to your baby.
Be aware of snaking!
Eating for two is very important but just be aware of how often your
snacking. The more frequent that you are snacking, the higher your risk
of developing cavities. Make sure that you are able to "neutralize" your
mouth after snaking by drinking lots of water and even brushing about 1
hour after eating a snack.
Remember that your oral health is
connected to your overall health...and therefore to your baby's health!
Congratulations to those expecting mothers! I wish you and your baby
the best! If there are any questions that you have about your oral
health, please feel free to email me or to speak with your dentist.
To the buns in the ovens,
Dr. Lynda Tran
