Top 5 Oral Health Tips During Pregnancy
Many expecting mothers take special care to control their diet, surroundings, and daily routine. But these same women frequently neglect to consider their dental health while pregnant.
Serious consequences may result from this lack of dental health awareness. Pregnancy and dentistry are closely related.
Changes brought on by pregnancy frequently put both the mother and the unborn child at risk for serious dental issues.
You and your baby will stay healthy if you receive dental care, practise good oral hygiene, eat a healthy diet, and engage in other healthy behaviours.
Delaying necessary dental care could put you and your unborn child at significant risk. A bad tooth infection, for instance, could travel throughout your body.
Here are some suggestions for maintaining good oral health while you are expecting.
#1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene
- Use fluoride toothpaste twice daily to brush your teeth.
- Floss once per day to avoid having red, swollen gums.
- To prevent acid from damaging your teeth after vomiting, use a cup of water and a teaspoon of baking soda to rinse your mouth. Wait about an hour before brushing your teeth.
#2. Get Oral Health Care
- Caring for your mouth during pregnancy is crucial for you and your child. Your gums may become sore, swollen, or bleed due to physical changes during pregnancy. Gingivitis is the name of this issue (inflammation of the gums). Without treatment, gingivitis may become a more serious periodontal (gum) disease. Tooth loss may result from this illness.
- Oral healthcare is safe during pregnancy, including using X-rays, painkillers, and local anaesthesia.
- Before delivery, seek oral health care as advised by a dental professional.
#3. Eat Healthy Foods
- Consume a healthy, balanced diet.
- Avoid foods with a lot of sugar. Avoid drinking soda, fruit-flavoured drinks, and juice, which are all high in sugar.
- If you experience nausea, eat small amounts of healthy foods throughout the day.
- Drink fluoridated water all day long, especially in between meals.
- Get 600 micrograms of folic acid daily while pregnant to lower congenital disabilities risk. Consume folic acid-fortified foods and foods high in folate and a folic acid dietary supplement. These foods include, as examples:
- Broccoli, asparagus, and green leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach
- Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)
- Bananas, strawberries, oranges, cantaloupe, and papaya
- Grain products with folic acid added (bread, cereals, cornmeal, flour, pasta, white rice)
#4. Practice Other Healthy Behaviours
- Attend classes on pregnancy.
- Stop using any form of tobacco or recreational drugs. Don’t smoke around others.
- Abstain from alcohol.
- Consume iron and folic acid supplements as directed by your prenatal physician or nurse.
#5. Bonus– After Your Baby Is Born
- After your child is born, keep up your oral hygiene routine. Continue receiving dental care, maintaining good oral hygiene, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in other healthy behaviours.
- Take good care of your infant’s gums and teeth, feed them nutritious foods (exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months, ideally for 6 months), and take them to the dentist by the time they turn 1 year old.
- Starting at 6 months of age, request that your child’s paediatrician perform an oral health risk assessment and check your child’s mouth. Also, ask that they recommend a dentist for immediate oral health care.
Show Your Baby a Healthy Smile at Art De Dente Melbourne CBD
Your smile will be one of the first things your baby notices when born. By adhering to this dental advice for expectant mothers, you can maintain a healthy smile.
Enjoy your pregnancy, but don’t let the thrill of it make you neglect your oral hygiene.
At Art De Dente Melbourne CBD, we don’t let any dental problems take over you!
We are committed to keeping you completely at ease and providing the highest levels of comfort throughout your visit.
Contact (03) 9642 8955 or make an appointment online.
Visit us at Level 17, 190 Queen Street in Melbourne CBD.