Most women take better care of their general health during pregnancy but may overlook the need for good dental health. In fact, the hormonal changes caused by pregnancy can affect oral health which is why it’s vitally important to keep up with regular dental checkups and cleanings. These hormonal changes increase the sensitivity of your gums to bacteria so you may notice your gums begin to bleed or feel sore or tender. This is a condition called pregnancy gingivitis and it will clear up once the baby is born but you must take extra care of your teeth and gums during this time.
Ideally, it’s best to visit a dentist before you become pregnant but otherwise book an appointment as soon as you receive the happy news. Your dentist will be able to assess your current dental health and can suggest a suitable preventative dental care plan to follow during your pregnancy. To avoid or control pregnancy gingivitis, your dentist may suggest more frequent professional cleanings as regularly removing the bacteria that cause the infection and inflammation will reduce your risk.
There is no need to be concerned that regular dental care will harm your baby as instead it can protect them, helping to give them the best possible start in life.
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