I’ve been getting a lot of questions about pregnancy, more so, concerns. You have a beautiful child on the way, and you want to make sure you do everything to ensure a smooth pregnancy, right?
Good, then read this, and if you still have any questions, give us a call at Koppelman Dental, 2123823782
If you’re reading this, let me start by saying congratulations.
As the hormones in your body begin to rev up, you’re going to start noticing a lot of changes, not just just physically, but emotionally, and for this blog’s discussion, orally as well.
Your mouth is window to your body’s well being, and a lot can be told by your dentist with a proper exam. Seeing your dentist at least twice is recommended. Ideally at the beginning of pregnancy, and right before 3rd trimester.
The safest time for actual dental treatment is during the 2nd trimester, so, if you’re planning on getting pregnant try getting everything done in your mouth before hand. If you’re already pregnant and need work done, or find out you need work, thats OK too! Don’t put it off, go see the dentist. That said, you can have work done during any trimester. First trimester the baby is just beginning to develop, and third trimester we want to make sure you don’t have too much extra stress that may cause your baby to come too soon. So the sweet spot is 2nd trimester. But don’t worry, it’s safe for treatment any time. That said, I’d recommend holding off from any elective procedures, like whitening and veneers. Reason being is I don’t find a need to put any undo stresses on your body
Which brings me to my next point, x rays. X ray shields work! They don’t work 10% or 90%, they work 100%. If you’re wearing an X-ray apron, radiation will not penetrate that area. So as long as you’re wearing it, you and your baby have nothing to worry about. On top of that, with the advent of digital radiography, dental x rays do not use a lot of radiation compared to most other medical X-rays
Whlie you’re pregnant, it is crucial to take good care of your gums. Although I hope you’re always flossing at least once a day regardless, with the rise of hormones in your body, you may notice your gums bleeding more easily. Also called pregnancy gingivitis, like most things, it’s easier to prevent than treat. Make sure you’re brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. You may still see some bleeding, but a good oral care routine will minimize this. You can also be at a higher risk of something called a pyogenic granuloma, or pregnancy tumor, which is a large growth of gums between your teeth. This can be very irritating, and once again, good home care can help prevent this and minimize risk of getting it