You’re Pregnant! Congrats, and Be Sure to Read These Oral-Health Tips
Did you recently find out you are pregnant for the first time? If so, you should know that good oral health is essential to keeping you and your baby healthy. If you skimp on your oral health during pregnancy, it may cause problems for you in the future. The following are a few important oral-health pointers to keep in mind.
Vomiting
Pregnant women are susceptible to morning sickness or nausea in early pregnancy. These uncomfortable moments cause some women to vomit. After vomiting, a peculiar aftertaste may remain and evoke thoughts of getting sick again. Some women make the mistake of brushing their teeth after a vomiting episode. Tooth-brushing should be delayed to reduce the chances of the stomach acid in the vomit damaging tooth enamel. Instead, opt to rinse your mouth with baking soda dissolved in water to lower the acidity. If the unpleasant taste lingers, try chewing sugarless gum.
Dental Exams
You need to see a dentist at least once while you are pregnant. This is because hormonal changes can cause a number of effects on the body. Some women also develop gingivitis and periodontal disease during their pregnancies. Dental exams will catch issues such as tooth decay, inflamed gums, and gum disease in a timely manner, and this can minimize the impact of these conditions on your oral health.
Brushing and Flossing
These important self-care dental actions will become more important while you are pregnant. Flossing aids in removing plaque and food particles that can cause bacteria to flourish. This is why brushing alone is not enough to ensure that you are reducing your chances of oral issues. Perhaps it has been a while since you flossed your teeth. If so, you might experience a small amount of bleeding. Do not let this deter you from continuing to floss because this is an issue that should clear up over time. If bleeding gums persist, a visit to your dentist can aid in ruling out gingivitis or confirming whether the bleeding is normal.
Nutrition
You likely know that eating healthy will aid in protecting your growing baby's health. You may not have considered that proper nutrition can also protect your teeth and gums. Consume adequate calcium-rich foods. Your baby's growing body is forming bones. If there is not enough calcium in your diet, your body may pull calcium from your bones to supply your baby with calcium. Some people cannot get vitamins and nutrients from food alone, especially in the early stages of pregnancy when there are vomiting episodes. Taking prenatal vitamins can help with this, but some people get nauseated from certain prenatal vitamins too. Changing to a different vitamin might correct this issue.
Talk to a dentist, such as one at Paul G. Isler Dental, for more tips.
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