Advice from the Arlington TX Dentist: Your Oral Health During Pregnancy, PART 2

"This two-part article series discusses the importance of proper oral health and hygiene during pregnancy."

In our previous article post, the Arlington TX dentist discussed the importance of proper oral health and hygiene during pregnancy. A variety of risk factors, such as hormonal changes, morning sickness and sugar cravings, can render a pregnant woman more susceptible to the oral bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontal (gum) disease. Prevention of these oral conditions and prompt treatment in the event that they develop is incredibly important, stresses the Arlington TX dentist, because oral bacterial infections have been linked with premature births and underweight babies. So, what can you as a mother-to-be do to protect not only your oral and general health, but the health of your unborn baby?

Advice from the Arlington Dentist: What You Can Do During Pregnancy

There are a number of measures you can take to protect yourself and your baby:

1. Immediately schedule yourself an appointment with the Arlington dentist. Tell him/her that you are pregnant and they will explain to you what this means for your oral health. The Arlington TX dentist will also mark you down for regular appointments to keep the health of your teeth and gums in top condition.

2. Make sure you brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day or after meals, says the Arlington TX dentist. Cravings are very common for pregnant women and they can hit at unconventional eating hours, so you should really brush 30 minutes after any meal, snack or treat. Waiting 30 minutes allows your teeth time to remineralize, says the Arlington dentist. Brushing immediately after food can hasten the erosion of your dental enamel.

3. Include daily flossing in your hygiene routine, stresses the Arlington TX dentist! And carry around an ADA-approved anti-bacterial mouthwash with you. This will give you the upper edge against the bacteria in your mouth.

4. Try to maintain a healthy diet. Satisfy sugar cravings with healthy options like fresh or dried fruit instead of chocolate and candy, advises the Arlington dentist. If you can’t do without these kinds of indulgences then there are sugar-free chocolates on the market. You may want to stock up on these if you have an insatiable sweet tooth, says the Arlington TX dentist

Ask the Arlington TX Dentist: What Happens if I Develop Gum Problems During Pregnancy?

Many women worry about what dental treatment will do to the health of their unborn child. And in a move that is incredibly detrimental to their health, they actually opt to wait until they give birth before seeking the attention of the Arlington TX dentist. If you notice inflammation or swelling of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth, then book yourself an appointment with the Arlington TX dentist immediately. There are all sorts of myths surrounding pregnancy and dental treatment. What you need to focus on is maintaining the health of your teeth and gums. Waiting nine months to give birth before you seek treatment can put both you and your unborn baby in danger.

A Final Note from the Arlington TX Dentist

The saying, “one tooth is lost with every pregnancy” is a fallacy, explains the Arlington dentist. With a proper home oral hygiene routine and regular preventative dental treatment, the health of your teeth and gums will not be compromised at all!

Advice from the Arlington Dentist: Your Oral Health During Pregnancy, PART 1

 This two-part article series discusses the importance of proper oral health and hygiene during pregnancy.

Pregnancy goes hand-in-hand with a mind-boggling number of concerns and challenges for the parents-to-be. Picking out a name, choosing a color for the nursery, rushing to the 24 hour convenient store at 2am for pickles and peanut-butter, child-proofing the house and birthing classes are only the tip of the giant iceberg of stresses and joys a budding family experiences at the prospect of bringing a new life into the world. The health of your teeth and gums during this time are probably about as far from the mind of the mother-to-be as ex-planet Pluto is from the Sun. And why shouldn’t it be? Well, says the Arlington dentist, this is because pregnancy puts women at a higher risk of gum disease!

Advice from the Arlington TX Dentist: Your Oral Health during Pregnancy

You brush twice a day and floss when you remember to. And it’s only been about a year since your last appointment with the Arlington dentist, which probably makes you the average patient. So, why should your oral health and hygiene habits change during pregnancy? Pregnancy brings about certain hormonal changes in women, says the Arlington dentist. And these can increase your chance of developing an oral bacterial infection of the gums, gingivitis, or even periodontitis; it’s acute and chronic form. These gum problems are caused by bacteria that are naturally found in your mouth, explains the Arlington TX dentist. The only difference is that while you’re pregnant, hormonal changes cause your body to respond more readily to the bacteria in plaque. As a result, your gums can swell and become inflamed, even if your oral hygienic habits have remained the same, says the Arlington dentist.

Other common causes of dental problems during pregnancy arise from:

• The frequent acid bath your teeth and gums get as a result of morning sickness, says the Arlington dentist.
• Pregnant women can also experience cravings for sugary foods, which encourage bacterial growth in between brushes.
• A heightened gag reflex, which can make it tricky for pregnant women to give their teeth and tongue the thorough brushing they need to remain as bacteria-free as possible, explains the Arlington TX dentist.

Advice from the Arlington TX Dentist: What You Can Do

According to the Arlington dentist, proper oral hygiene is fundamental during pregnancy because just as being a mother-to-be puts the health of your teeth and gums on the line, so too can the health of your teeth and gums affect your unborn baby. Research has shown there to be a clear link between advanced oral bacterial infection and the incidence of under-weight babies and premature birthing, says the Arlington TX dentist. While it’s not uncommon for babies to be born before their due date, there are always associated risks and potentially severe health implications for both mother and child. Think about how important your diet is to your unborn child. Would you really want to have a mouth teeming with bacteria? It’s no wonder the Arlington dentist stresses the importance of proper oral hygiene to pregnant women!

So, what can you do to protect your oral and general health during this exciting time?

Advice from the Arlington TX Dentist: Stay Tuned

To read the Arlington dentist’s advice on oral health during pregnancy, stay tuned for the next installment of this two part series.