Dental Care During Pregnancy Cerritos, CA

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Our team is so happy for you and wants to do all we can to help make taking care of your oral health as easy as possible during this time. Pregnant women have special health and dental needs. Dental care during pregnancy changes a bit and we want to help you feel prepared, which is why your Cerritos dentist is sharing some dental care tips for pregnant women.

Preventative Dental Care – Important During Pregnancy?

Preventative dental care – both at home and provided by your Cerritos dentist – is important at all times during your life. Most especially, though, during pregnancy.

Your body undergoes a multitude of changes when you become pregnant and throughout your pregnancy. Those changes can impact the overall health of not just your body but also your teeth and gums.

How Does Pregnancy Impact Your Oral Health?

Hormones affect the health of your gum tissue. And during your pregnancy, your hormones fluctuate frequently. In fact, some dentists can identify when a woman is experiencing hormonal changes – like pregnancy – simply by looking at their gums.

It isn’t uncommon for women to experience gum inflammation during this time in their life. Even if nothing has changed with their home care practices, they can still experience sore, red, puffy gums – and even bleeding when they floss or brush.

In some cases, pregnant women notice that plaque develops more frequently, and they have to brush more frequently.

What Are Gingival Pregnancy Tumors?

Another oral phenomenon experienced by some expectant mothers is tumors or small tissue growths on their gums. These are known as pyogenic granulomas. Though they bleed easily, which can be worrisome, they are non-malignant and tend to fade away after pregnancy.

What Is the Link Between Oral Health and General Health?

Poor oral healthcare has been linked to certain health conditions – both for mom and baby. Any form of stress on your body – including that of dental diseases – can impact your pregnancy and put your baby at risk. In fact, dental diseases have been linked to low birth weight and premature birth.

Two of the main concerns your Cerritos dentist has when it comes to your oral health, pregnancy, and dental care are dental decay and gum disease. These diseases can not only impact your oral health but also your general health as well.

Dental Decay

Your Cerritos dentist wants to help prevent dental decay because it can lead to pain and infection if it’s not treated. The infection can spread beyond your mouth to vital organs, like your brain and heart. It can even impact the health and development of your child.

Thankfully, we can remedy the situation quickly to avoid a dental emergency. Better yet, when you stick to a preventative dental routine during your pregnancy, you can avoid getting cavities altogether.

However, if you do get a cavity, it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. The chance of developing dental decay during pregnancy increases in some women. This is mostly due to the heavier build-up of plaque and tartar, as well as snacking more and choosing sugary snacks over healthier options.

If you have morning sickness and vomit quite a bit, the stomach acid can also wear down your enamel, making it more susceptible to breakdown and dental decay.

Your Cerritos dentist has ways of helping you prevent dental decay, so be sure to consult with them when you find out about your pregnancy.

Gum Disease

Gum disease causes inflammation not only in your mouth but throughout your entire body. It has been closely linked with major health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.

Pregnant women already have an increased risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Preventing gum disease will help reduce your risk of developing these conditions.

What Is Preventative Dentistry?

Preventative dental care from your Cerritos dentist includes:

Regular visits to the dentist help your dentist identify potential dental issues early. The sooner they can catch these problems, the easier it is to resolve them.

Professional cleanings will help keep your gums healthy because we remove all the plaque and tartar (calcified plaque) from your teeth and below the gum line. Removing plaque and tartar regularly helps prevent gum disease, as well as dental decay.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe for Pregnant Women?

This is one of the most asked questions we get from pregnant patients. And it’s a good question because your #1 job is to protect your baby and x-rays emit some radiation.

We want to ease your mind. Our team will do everything we can to keep you and your baby safe. We always cover patients – young and old, men and women – with a special lead apron to prevent radiation exposure. We also utilize a digital x-ray system that emits over 80% less radiation than traditional x-rays.

Why Is a Dental Home Care Routine Important During Pregnancy?

While visiting your Cerritos dentist at least twice a year is important to your oral health, at-home care is even more imperative. It is what you do on a daily basis that will either keep your teeth and gums healthy or wreak havoc on your oral healthcare.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Invest in an electric toothbrush if possible. It helps clean your teeth more thoroughly, prevents damage caused by brushing too hard, and the toothbrush head is often smaller than a traditional one, which is ideal if your gag reflex is stronger during pregnancy.

Take time to floss at least once a day, as well. Avoid super sugary foods and beverages and stick (as much as possible) to nutrient-dense foods. Not only are these foods better for your overall health – and that of your baby – but the vitamins and minerals will help keep your teeth strong.

If you have morning sickness and experience a lot of vomiting, rinse your mouth out with a mixture of eight ounces of water and a teaspoon of baking soda. Don’t drink the mixture. Just swish and spit. The baking soda helps neutralize the stomach acids, helping to prevent them from attacking your enamel.

Dental Care During Pregnancy Benefits You and Your Baby

We know that the most important thing to you right now is the health of your developing baby. Our team will do all they can to help you care for your own dental health while ensuring the wellbeing of your child. If you have any questions or concerns about pregnancy and dental care, please contact us right away.

Interested In More Dental Care Tips for Pregnant Women From Your Cerritos Dentist?

We’re happy to help! Contact us today to set up a consultation with Dr. Omid.