Oral health care or dental habits to practice during pregnancy plays a vital role, yet practically every pregnant woman avoids and misunderstands it. Gum disease is more likely to occur because of hormonal shifts undergone by the body. It might be detrimental to the unborn child’s health if prenatal dental care is neglected. Women are encouraged to improve their own health habits while pregnant. Dentists or doctors assist in treating maternal dental disorders and lowering birth risks.
Major Dental Habits to Practice During Pregnancy
The duties of pregnancy are substantial. You should never ignore your dental hygiene during pregnancy. Regular dental care and exams are safe for pregnant women to undergo. However, it’s crucial that your dentist knows you’re pregnant, how far along you are, and other relevant details.
Here are some dental habits to practice during pregnancy for maintaining good dental health throughout pregnancy.
Cleaning the Teeth Right
Maintaining optimal dental health throughout pregnancy is essential. Brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day is crucial to your oral health. Lack of adequate tooth brushing technique has been shown in some research to be almost as ineffective as not brushing at all. So it’s important to wash your teeth every day. If not addressed, it may have serious consequences for the growing kid. Plaque may solidify and cause gum disease if not removed correctly by brushing. Thus, it is crucial to brush thoroughly yet gently twice, using circular strokes, making it one of the vital dental habits to practice during pregnancy.
Using Fluoride Toothpaste
People use toothpaste for many reasons than only its taste and its ability to whiten teeth. When picking a new toothpaste, there are a few more things to consider. It doesn’t matter what kind of toothpaste you buy or how much it costs, fluoride should be included. Good oral hygiene may be maintained throughout pregnancy because of fluoride, the major component of most kinds of toothpaste. It aids in warding against tooth decay. It protects teeth from bacteria and helps keep your mouth healthy.
Read About the Benefits of Mouthwash
Many expecting mothers avoid using mouthwash because they have doubts about its efficacy. However, mouthwash assists in cleaning those hard-to-reach regions neutralizing acidity, and remineralizing teeth that have been worn down by erosion. They are a standard part of any healthy pregnant dental routine. If the ladies want to know what mouthwash works best, they may ask their dentist.
Being Sure to Consume Many Liters of Water
When it comes to oral and maternal health, water is the clear winner. Expecting mothers should drink enough water at all times. They need to increase their water intake, particularly just after eating. For healthy teeth and gums, drinking enough water is also helpful. It’s useful for neutralizing the acidic and sticky residues left behind by food and drink. It’s important to remove them since they may cause gum disease, which in turn can influence the growth of the kid.
Increase Your Consumption of Raw, Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
When it comes to your teeth, eating more prepackaged items isn’t a time saver. Pregnant women’s teeth benefit most from the crunch and freshness of raw fruits and vegetables, and these foods also include more of the healthful fiber that pregnant women need. Correct function of the jaws is a prerequisite for good dental hygiene.
Reduce Your Intake of Sugary and Acidic Foods
Acids are produced in the mouth from the sugars in meals. Enamel breakdown and cavity formation are the results of prolonged exposure to these acidic substances. Therefore, pregnant women should restrict their intake of sugary and acidic meals to help protect their teeth and gums. Foods and drinks high in citric acid, including citrus, coffee, and tea, break down tooth enamel. However, this doesn’t give the green light to go crazy on these meals; rather, moderation is the key.
Tell Your Dentist That You’re Pregnant
It’s important to let your dentist or oral surgeon know if you’re expecting. Regular dental care and checkups for women are available whenever they’re needed. However, dentists often delay any elective dental procedures until after the baby is born. Before scheduling a dental consultation, pregnant women should find out whether there is a specific obstetrician they should see and if they have any particular instructions or precautions they should follow.
Notifying the Dentist About Your Medications
It is important for women to disclose any medications they are taking to their dentist. Prenatal vitamins and other drugs should be disclosed to the dentist. In addition to the dentist, your regular physicians should be informed of any unique medical instructions they have given you. The dentist will consider this information carefully and may make adjustments to the treatment plan as a result.
The Bottom Line
Pregnancy and dental health are both affected by daily routines. Dental care is available for pregnant women who have problems including tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, etc. The dentist aids in diagnosing such issues and recommending appropriate dental habits to practice during pregnancy along with several other treatments and fixes. Visit the Fern Dental website or schedule an appointment with a dentist to address any dental concerns.
