Scheduling regular dental appointments is always important.
Although staying on top of your dental hygiene can protect your teeth to some degree, to ensure they remain healthy for years, you also need professional care.
A thorough dental cleaning guards against cavities and other oral health issues in a way that brushing and flossing alone can’t.
Seeing your dentist is particularly essential when you’re pregnant.
Both your own health and the health of your baby will benefit if you make a point of scheduling dentist appointments throughout these critical nine months.
The following Reasons Pregnant Women Should See Their Dentists will help you better understand why.
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Preventing premature birth
Dentists don’t merely treat your teeth.
They treat all your major oral surfaces.
This includes your gums.
Numerous studies have found a link between gum disease and premature birth.
One study even found that women who have gum disease are seven times more likely than most to give birth prematurely.
To limit the chances of your child being born dangerously early, see your dentist regularly.
They will keep your gums clean and healthy.
If they notice any warning signs of gum disease, they’ll provide fast treatment to prevent a minor problem from developing into something much more significant.
Protecting yourself
Being pregnant often increases a woman’s chances of developing various dental and oral health problems.
There are several reasons this is the case.
First, it’s not uncommon for eating habits to change during pregnancy.
You may be eating foods that you normally wouldn’t.
This can potentially lead to cavities, gum disease, and a range of similar issues.
Additionally, it’s natural for a woman’s oral and dental hygiene habits to change when they’re pregnant.
Some pregnant women stop flossing as often or as thoroughly as they used to because they find their gums are more tender.
Others are simply too tired to brush and floss as often as they normally would.
When you’re pregnant, the levels of certain hormones in your body rise as well.
This is another factor that can increase your odds of developing oral health conditions.
For instance, when the levels of progesterone and estrogen in your body are high, the tissues holding your teeth in place can loosen.
This puts you at risk of losing teeth.
Remember, your dental and oral health can also affect your baby during pregnancy.
Because your dental health is more vulnerable when you’re pregnant, you need to protect it with the help of a dentist.
Morning sickness can damage teeth
Morning sickness is already one of the more unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t just affect your comfort.
Frequent morning sickness can also damage your teeth.
When you vomit, your teeth are exposed to acids from your stomach.
These acids can eat away at the enamel protecting your teeth.
You may more easily develop cavities as a result.
When to see your dentist
Although you should be taking regular trips to the dentist anyway, you should also see the dentist right away if you notice any signs of dental health problems that may be common during pregnancy.
These include bad breath, feeling that your teeth are loose, tooth pain, and swelling or receding gums.
It’s also a good idea to make sure your dentist knows you’re pregnant.
This knowledge may impact the way they go about treating your teeth and gums.
Once more, you always need to prioritize your dental health.
Doing so is key to your overall wellness.
However, when you’re pregnant the most important Reasons Pregnant Women Should See Their Dentists regularly also plays an important role in someone else’s health: the health of your baby.
If you found this article, How to Determine the Right Birthing Option, useful check out these related resources; 5 Benefits of Home Birth, Are All Infant Formulas The Same? and Tips for Breastfeeding Moms.
