Expectant mothers are well aware of the symbiotic relationship between them and their growing child. What the mother eats and otherwise takes in affects the unborn child. While we may think more heavily on the “eating for two” aspect of pregnancy, oral health is also something expectant mothers also need to focus on.
Joosse Family Orthodontics shares some information for expectant mothers to ensure they maximize their oral health during pregnancy.
How Does Pregnancy Affect Oral Health?
According to HealthyChildren.org, tooth and gum health declines during pregnancy. Hormonal changes are one of the reasons this happens. According to some research, as noted by the article, there is a link between gingivitis and preterm delivery and low birthweight babies. On the surface, one might not see the correlation, but a healthy mouth does help contribute to good overall health.
Apart from hormones, morning sickness can be a major cause of poor teeth health. The stomach acid from vomiting can break down the teeth’s enamel. Likewise, it is common to eat more frequently when pregnant. Doing so is fine, of course, as long as you eat healthily and make sure to brush your teeth to avoid leaving harmful food particles to wear away at your enamel.
Caring for Your Teeth
Of course, it is important to maintain proper oral hygiene habits. Doing so will counter much of what might otherwise cause lasting harm. There are some additional things you can do, however, to help your teeth.
Chew Sugarless Gum
Chewing sugarless gum–or gum with xylitol rather than sugar–can help decrease the amount of plaque on your teeth as well as make it easier to clean it off.
Baking Soda
If you have morning sickness (or find yourself vomiting for any other reason), rinse your mouth with water and baking soda. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to one cup of water for the mixture. This will help make the acid less harmful, so it’s important to do this as soon as possible after vomiting.
Avoid Juice
While we consider (some) juice to be a healthy drink, a lot of it contains lots of sugar. By avoiding juice–and other sugary drinks, like soda–you can save your teeth from damage.
Expectant Mothers: The Family Orthodontist
Dr. Joosse is a family orthodontist and wants the best oral health from babies, children, teenagers, and adults of all ages. If there is a condition you are concerned about, or you are considering orthodontic treatment, visit us online to schedule your complimentary consultation. We look forward to seeing you!
