Dental Health Tips and Visits for Pregnant Mothers

Professional Dental Care — When is the best time to have dental work done if you're pregnant?

The 4th to 6th months of pregnancy may be the most comfortable time for you to visit your dentist, since few concerns of pregnancy occur during this period. A dental check-up and cleaning during your pregnancy can find and treat problems before they become serious. Women who are free of serious gum disease are less at risk for having a premature or low birth weight baby.

An Important note from Dr. Reifman... If you haven't had a dental cleaning from your dentist or hygienist for awhile, and you are pregnant, please consider making an appointment! A proper, thorough, gentle teeth and gum cleaning, especially during your 2nd trimester, will substantially reduce possible gum disease and accompanying oral gum infections to yourself, and will make your body a much healthier environment for your growing baby.

Pregnancy & Oral Health

Newsflash: Good Oral Health Begins in the Womb

CHICAGO — Pregnant women can help ensure their children get a good start on their oral health by focusing on staying healthy, including a proper diet, because teeth begin developing between the third and sixth month of pregnancy, says the American Dental Association (ADA).

Taking good care of yourself during pregnancy affects not only your own health but also the health of your baby.

Did you know that... some women have sore, bleeding gums during pregnancy?

Daily brushing and flossing, a healthy diet and regular dental visits will keep your teeth and gums healthy during and after pregnancy.

Some people believe that a tooth is lost for every pregnancy. This is not true.

Professional dental care — When is the best time during a pregnancy?

The 4th to 6th months of pregnancy may be the most comfortable time for you to visit your dentist, since few concerns of pregnancy occur during this period. A dental check-up and cleaning during your pregnancy can find and treat problems before they become serious. Women who are free of serious gum disease are less at risk for having a premature or low birth weight baby.

Should you avoid dental treatment?

Regular dental cleanings and check-ups can be done safely at any time during your pregnancy. Be sure to tell your dentist or dental hygienist that you are pregnant. Any pain, swelling or infection in your mouth should be treated immediately, because this can affect your health and your baby's health.

Are x-rays safe?

If you are pregnant, you can postpone routine dental x-rays until after your baby is born, to reduce radiation exposure. If x-rays are needed, our dental office will provide a leaded apron to shield you.

Are local anesthetics and medicines safe?

It is wise to avoid taking drugs or medications of any kind while you are pregnant. However, if you need emergency dental treatment, certain drugs may be required. They are generally considered safe, but you should discuss their use with your dentist and physician.

Diet and dental health for you and your unborn child

The amount of food you need every day depends on your age, body size and activity level. Remember, your baby's first teeth begin forming in the 5-6th week of pregnancy, so...

• Enjoy a variety of foods from the four food groups: grain products; vegetables and fruit; milk products; meat and alternatives.
• Eat regularly: three meals and two or three healthy snacks every day.
• Eat a balanced diet. The four food groups provide the necessary nutrients for you and your unborn baby need.
• Talk to your doctor or health unit staff about choosing a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Tooth decay is affected by how often you eat, and how long the food stays on your teeth.
• For further information consult the dental staff and nutritionist at your health unit.

Morning sickness and Dental Problems

Nausea and vomiting can happen during pregnancy, caused by hormonal action, tension and/or fatigue. This feeling usually occurs during the 8th to 12th week of pregnancy. Frequent vomiting can leave stomach acids in your mouth. If this acid is not cleared away quickly, it can damage the surfaces of your teeth and promote tooth decay.

Some helpful suggestions

Try eating unsalted crackers or dry toast as a snack before getting out of bed in the morning. It may also help to get out of bed slowly.

Rinse your mouth with water, or use a fluoride mouth rinse after vomiting, to freshen your mouth and protect your teeth from the damaging action of stomach acids.

Notify your doctor if vomiting persists or if you become concerned.

Tender or bleeding gums

Hormonal changes occur during pregnancy that can affect the gums. The gums may become swollen and inflamed in response to bacteria along the gum line. This is called "pregnancy gingivitis". It usually appears during the third to ninth month of pregnancy. To prevent pregnancy gingivitis, it's important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to gently brush along the gum line.

What can you do to help:

• Keep your mouth squeaky clean.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily to remove plaque and food debris from between the teeth.

Other ways to stay healthy

Don't smoke or drink alcohol during pregnancy. The more you smoke, the more likely you are to experience problems with your pregnancy. Scientific evidence links smoking to miscarriages and low birth weights for infants.

There is no known safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. It has been shown that women who drink while pregnant can have babies with physical and mental defects.

Women who find it difficult to stop smoking or drinking alcohol can contact their physician or their local health unit for assistance.

Eating Disorders

These are more prevalent in women. People with bulimia make themselves vomit up stomach acid that erodes enamel surfaces, weakening and discoloring tooth structure. Usually most of the damage is done to the back of the front teeth. Thinning of enamel by the acid makes tooth color appear gray or brownish as opposed to white and creamy. While frequent brushing and rinsing the mouth with water helps, it does not neutralize the acid exposure if frequent.

A neutral fluoride mouth rinse or antacid may be recommended by your dentist. Women with such disorders need to seek professional help (though a dentist can help treat certain among the physical symptoms).

Diet pills reduce salivary flow that can lead to tooth decay and gum diseases. Without saliva lubricating and neutralizing the mouth, the teeth and the gums are exposed for a longer time to food particles that stick to them. To minimize this risk, increase flossing and brushing, and drink extra water along with using a daily fluoride mouth rinse.

Dental Procedure May Reduce Risk Of Premature Birth

CHICAGO - A non-surgical dental procedure may reduce the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with periodontal disease,* according to new study findings. Nearly 12 percent of babies in this country are born preterm (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy), which increases their risk of death and lasting disabilities, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung and gastrointestinal problems, and vision and hearing loss.

*Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease can include bleeding or swollen gums, manifests itself as more pronounced in women who are pregnant. Dr. Reifman's dental office is very proud to have Jodi Greene, a registered dental and perio hygienist who gently and carefully treats pregnant women who may have gum disease.

"Scaling and root planing may significantly reduce a mother's chance of having a preterm birth," said Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D, study author and former Rosen professor and chair at the University of Alabama at Birmingham school of dentistry.

"In light of recent findings, I recommend that all women who are thinking of becoming pregnant or who are pregnant receive a full periodontal exam and diagnosis," said Jeffcoat. "Women who are already pregnant when periodontal disease is detected are ideally treated with scaling and root planing in the second trimester, which is a pragmatic protocol according to most Ob-Gyn specialists."

Previous research reported that periodontal infections cause a faster-than-normal increase in the levels of prostaglandin and tumor necrosis factor molecules that induce labor, thus causing premature delivery before the fetus can grow to a normal birth weight. However, this is the first intervention study that offers advice on reducing the risk of premature births with scaling and root planing therapy alone.

"This is important information for the public and the medical community," said Gordon Douglass, D.D.S., president of the American Academy of Periodontology. "Every mother wants to reduce her risk of having an unhealthy baby. A simple periodontal examination can give her the comfort of knowing that her oral health will not contribute to increasing her risk of having a preterm baby."

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