Pregnancy and your teeth

Precautions and Care

Why do your teeth need special care during pregnancy?

Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy the blood supply to the gum area around the teeth increases. The gums can swell and react more to the bacteria in plaque. This can lead to bleeding and in some cases to pregnancy gingivitis. We then clean our teeth less because we worry that our gums will bleed; plaque subsequently increases leading to a vicious circle effect.

Many women suffer from sickness and nausea during pregnancy and continual vomitting can weaken the protective enamel that covers the teeth.

Any lengthy treatment in a semi-horizontal position can be uncomfortable for a pregnant woman. Furthermore we are not able to take X-rays during pregnancy which often makes a full diagnosis very difficult. For this reason it is important to reduce your caries and gum disease risk to a minimum during this time.

Healthy gums and teeth in a few simple steps

It is vital to follow a meticulous care and cleaning routine during pregnancy.

• We recommend a very soft toothbrush which won't harm your gums and cause bleeding. Use a mouth wash and interdental brushes to combat plaque in those hard-to-reach places.
• Watch what you eat - reduce sugar and increase the amount of fresh fruit and, above all, vegetables which necessitate intensive chewing and thus help increase saliva production.
• If you are sick do not clean your teeth immediately afterwards, instead swill your mouth out with water or milk and wait at least 30 minutes.
• In addition to home care you should visit your dentist for check-ups every 3 months.

We can determine your caries risk level and then discuss with you the required prophylactic measures for the duration of the pregnancy.

Should you require further information please feel free to contact us.