Expert Guide to Maintain Oral Health During Pregnancy
Maintaining oral health during pregnancy may be one of the most important things you do for yourself and your baby. Improper oral hygiene during pregnancy can result in a lot of complications and problems for the growing baby. Here is everything you need to know about keeping your teeth and gums healthy during pregnancy from the expert obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Max Mongelli,
Consult an Oral Health Care Expert
Take out time for your oral health check-up before your pregnancy and get all the dental problems checked before like a cavity, gum disease, or any other dental problems.
Pregnant women are more susceptible to gum disease because of a shift in hormone levels, which can lead to preterm labor and low birth weight. Also, the presence of plaque can aggravate gingivitis due to the increased blood circulation to the gums, which, like plaque, is caused by a lack of oral hygiene.
Practice a Good Oral Health Care Routine
It’s important to follow a certain oral health care routine during pregnancy. Keeping your teeth healthy will ensure the development of your child. Brush your teeth regularly with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day after eating. The dentist recommends taking floss and using interdental brushes between spaces. It is best to visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and oral health care during pregnancy. Every night before sleeping, make sure to rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouth rinse.
Consume a Healthy Diet to Maintain Oral Health
Foods that are high in sugars and carbohydrates can lead to tooth decay. This is especially important to remember during pregnancy when you are supposed to be eating for two. Due to the delicate state that your body is in, you would want to make sure what you are feeding your baby is of the best quality. Eat foods rich in vitamin C and calcium; eat green leafy vegetables, fruits, and dairy products like egg, yogurt, cheese, oranges, grapefruits, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, strawberries, kiwis, legumes, and lentils.
Practice a Healthy Routine
• Avoid smoking, use of tobacco, and consumption of alcohol.
• Visit your dentist more often to avoid any gum disease.
• Join prenatal classes to learn more about the beginning of parenthood and your pregnancy.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle.
Maintaining proper oral health during pregnancy is essential to the health of both mother and fetus. We hope these above tips help you maintain your oral health. And, if you have more queries, you can reach out to an experienced obstetrician like Max Mongelli.
