How to take care of your teeth during pregnancy
Trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you’re pregnant can feel overwhelming. When caring for your teeth, we encourage you to do what you’ve always done—regular brushing, flossing, balanced eating, and dental visits are the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby. But your body and hormones are changing, so everything may not feel status quo to you. Here are tips for when unexpected questions pop into your head.
If you find yourself starting to gag every time you brush your teeth, don’t stop brushing.
- Use a soft small-headed, child-size toothbrush.
- Focus on your breathing.
- Brush later in the morning when we are less apt to gag.
- Don’t use toothpaste. After you’re done brushing without toothpaste, smear some on your teeth and don’t rinse
If you find your gums are red, puffy, and tender, this is common, but be careful.
- Attend regular check-ups to keep your mouth healthy and lessen your chance of getting gum disease.
- Brush and floss carefully to prevent plaque build-up which leads to gum disease.
- Ask your dentist about using a microbial mouthwash to reduce gum disease-causing bacteria.
- Inform your doctor of any concerns. Delay in treatment of gum disease can lead to preterm and low birth weight delivery.
If you’re worried you’re ruining your teeth each time you vomit, there are things you can do.
- Rinse mouth with water (and sometimes a teaspoon of baking soda).
- Wait 30 minutes to brush, allowing enamel time to recover from the vomit-induced acid attack.
- Attend regular dental check-ups to keep your mouth healthy.