Dental Concerns Pregnant Women Have

Dental care during pregnancy is slightly different from the dental care that you would normally need to get. This is because your body is going to be more sensitive to certain types of dental procedures and supplies, and it is going to need more general upkeep. If you are planning on getting pregnant, or if you are already pregnant then this is the information that you need to know.

Pre-pregnancy Dental Care

If you are planning on getting pregnant within the next year you need to plan out both medical and dental procedures to get done before getting pregnant. Any major dental surgery that you will need, including cosmetic dental surgeries, need to be done before you conceive. This will reduce your risks and ensure your body has healed before it is put under the stress of a pregnancy.

Dealing With Bleeding Gums

One of the most common dental problems that women experience when they are pregnant is bleeding gums. Bleeding gums during pregnancy usually are caused by gingivitis. To help reduce the number of cases of bleeding gums you experience during your pregnancy you need to brush and floss your teeth after each meal and snack, and you also need to increase the number of professional teeth cleanings that you get. For example, it is recommended that you get your teeth cleaned by a dentist twice a year, you may want to increase this to three or even four times a year if you are pregnant and having problems with bleeding gums. You can also reduce the amount of irritation that your gums experience by avoiding foods that commonly get stuck in between your gums and teeth, like popcorn.

Dental Medications and Pregnancy

A common concern that pregnant women have about dental care is the safety of the various dental medications that are used. Generally, dentists will know which medications and additives will be safe for their pregnant patients and which ones are not. However, it is still a good idea to know what to ask for.

Safe Dental Pain Medications - After a procedures it is generally safe to take acetaminophen all through your pregnancy. Codeine and Percodan are also safe as long as they are only used for a short period of time, less than two weeks. Other non-steroidal pain medications will also be safe up to your 32 week.

Safe Antibiotics - If you have an infection in your mouth or if your dentist has recently performed dental surgery on your mouth then you will most likely be prescribed an antibiotic. Antibiotics in the penicillin and the cephalosporin families are generally safe for pregnant women. The antibiotic that you will want to avoid is tetracycline. This drug can negatively impact the development of your baby's teeth and bones.

Fluoride - The use of fluoride during pregnancy is controversial. If you are concerned about the possible impact this chemical can have on the health of your pregnancy talk to both your gynecologist and your dentist.

References

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