Pregnancy and Your Dental Health: What Every Mother-to-be Should Know

Pregnancy is an exciting and transformative time. Congratulations! Expectant parents know there’s a seemingly endless list of things to do before the baby arrives. Not surprisingly, managing your overall health is incredibly important during this time.

Not only is dental health integral to your full-body wellness but it’s also affected by the body changes that accompany pregnancy. Moreover, some dental health issues may affect both the health of your pregnancy and your baby. 

At Goodman Dental Center in Queen Creek, Arizona, Brian Goodman, DDS, Tanner Goodman, DDS, and their experienced team of dental hygienists and assistants are here to make your dental care as comfortable and efficient as possible. We welcome pregnant patients who need general dentistry services, so please just let us know about your condition and any health concerns or medications before we begin treatment.  

Your pregnancy can affect your dental health.

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that can trigger a cascade of different effects in your body. These hormonal changes can also affect oral and dental health. Studies show that pregnant women carry a higher risk of developing periodontal disease. 

You may also be more likely to develop cavities during pregnancy, typically due to increased cravings for sugary and starchy foods. Additionally, if you have morning sickness and throw up a lot, you’ll be exposing your teeth to strong stomach acids, which can eat away at the enamel.  

If you do find yourself struggling with daily vomiting, make sure you keep a glass of clean water mixed with a spoonful of baking soda at hand to rinse your mouth well after each bout of sickness. Don’t brush immediately, however; give it 30 minutes before scrubbing away with toothpaste or flossing to give your stomach a chance to settle.   

Pregnancy risk tie-ins to dental health problems  

Your overall health affects fetal development, and your dental health can impact your child’s oral health. Using alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy can affect your own teeth and gums as well as your unborn child’s. Also, if you have an infection in the gums, your baby could have a low birth weight or even be born prematurely due to inflammation. 

Periodontitis (gum disease) is also associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weights. An estimated 60-75% of pregnant women have gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease, which is why maintaining regular dental checkups during your pregnany is so important.  

Safe dental procedures during pregnancy

Most dental procedures are completely safe to undergo during all three trimesters of pregnancy. You can typically have the following necessary dental health treatments done in early to mid-stage pregnancy with no adverse impact on the fetus:

• Dental cleanings
• Cavity fillings
• Crowns and bridges
• Root canals
• Tooth whitening
• Cancer screenings

Though we may not want to use certain forms of strong sedation, local anesthetics are perfectly safe during pregnancy, and so are digital X-rays (we use lead aprons to protect you and your baby from radiation exposure.)  

Still, have questions or want to learn more about how we treat pregnant women? To schedule your appointment, call us at 480-807-4000 or request an appointment online today.