Dental Care During Pregnancy: Key Factors to Consider

Oral health is an important component of general health. Because of that, maintaining your oral health during pregnancy alongside a family dentist in Aurora, CO, is crucial to ensuring the baby's and mother’s safety.

Oral disorders, such as periodontitis, are associated with issues that affect your overall health, like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, respiratory infections, as well as pre-term birth. Because of that, dental care during pregnancy is fundamental.

Here are some key factors to consider.

Why Is Oral Care During Pregnancy Important?

Pregnancy-related physiological changes can cause noticeable alterations in the oral cavity, raising the possibility of problems like cavities or gum disease. These issues must be addressed promptly, as they can affect the child's health.

For instance, a mother’s dental decay can be transferred to their kid during routine parenting activities like sharing spoons. Additionally, dental health issues like periodontal disease have the potential to affect the unborn child’s health.

However, understanding the changes that go through in your mouth during pregnancy and what best practices you need to acquire from now on can be hard.

Here are some factors worth considering:

1. Regular Dental Care and Treatment Safety

Preventive, diagnostic, or restorative dental care is safe during pregnancy. This includes, for example, receiving local anesthetic and having dental radiographs taken.

There is also consensus among the American Dental Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) regarding the safety of performing emergency procedures like extractions, root canals, or restorations during pregnancy. This is because delaying treatment may result in more complex problems.

Asking your dentist to get in touch with the obstetrician before receiving any treatments while pregnant can still be beneficial. Doing this fosters a cooperative relationship that will facilitate future treatment planning. Your dentist should ask the following questions:

• What date is the anticipated delivery?

• Is this a pregnancy with a high risk? If yes, are there any particular issues or limitations?

• Is there a recommended medication for pain management?

2. Understanding and Preventing Oral Health Conditions with Increased Risk

As we mentioned before, certain body changes during pregnancy have the potential to make oral health conditions more common:  

• Hormonal fluctuations intensify the body's reaction to bacteria in the gingival tissue, raising the risk of gingivitis. According to statistics, periodontal disease affects about 40% of pregnant women.  

• Pregnant women are more susceptible to developing caries. For starters, morning sickness causes increased acidity in the mouth, increased dryness, and nausea that can hamper the patient’s oral hygiene. Additionally, dietary changes caused by cravings increase the chances of tooth decay.

• Hormonal fluctuations may cause pyrogenic granuloma, also called granuloma gravidarum, a round growth on the thin tissue cord attached to the gingivae.

• Vomiting due to morning sickness can cause enamel erosion, which increases teeth sensitivity and dental decay. It’s important to avoid brushing your teeth immediately after vomiting, as they’re already sensitive due to the stomach acids. To counteract the acid, rinse your mouth with a solution of one cup of water and one teaspoon of baking soda.

Pregnant women must practice good daily oral hygiene due to the increased risk of gingivitis and caries. They should use fluoride-containing toothpaste, brush twice a day for two minutes each time, and floss in between their teeth once a day.  

Furthermore, topical fluoride treatment can lessen erosion's effects. In these situations, fluoride varnish rather than gel treatments may reduce nausea.

It's essential that patients are informed of these changes and their implications as soon as possible so that they can reinforce healthy oral hygiene practices.

Some Key Considerations Regarding Periodontitis

The connection between maternal periodontitis and the outcome of pregnancy has been the subject of a lot of writing in recent years. Several studies concluded that there are correlations between periodontitis and problems in the baby’s development. Some of these may include:

• Pre-term birth,

• Low birth weight babies

• The onset of pre-eclampsia

If a pregnant woman develops periodontitis, scaling and root planing are two safe treatments to try and undo this situation before it advances any further.

3. Medication and Sedation Use During Pregnancy

Pregnant women frequently have questions concerning the use of antibiotics or local anesthetics. Safe-for-use options, according to the ADA, include:  

• Local anesthesia

• Antibiotics

• Penicillin

• Amoxicillin

• Cephalosporins

• Clindamycin

• Metronidazole

It is necessary to discuss the pros and cons of using additional medications with the patient's obstetrician.  

However, nitrous oxide is categorized as a pregnancy risk group Category C drug, which means there could be a risk to the fetus if taken during pregnancy. It is advised that pregnant patients and staff stay away from nitrous oxide exposure.

4. Radiographs

Both dentists and patients tend to be reluctant to obtain radiographs in pregnant people and may skip oral check-ups. However, several published guidelines and a national consensus ensure dental imaging is completely safe as long as proper care is administered.

Pregnant women can have dental radiographs taken at any stage of their pregnancy, according to the American Dental Association and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, if radiation protection techniques are used to keep the dose as low as is humanly possible.

Additionally, they advise covering your throat and abdomen with a protective apron when having radiographs taken.

Dental imaging is a crucial tool for diagnosing, managing, and evaluating oral disease treatment outcomes. However, a lack of awareness regarding the safety of dental imaging hinders pregnant women from seeking dental treatment.

Because of that, properly educating patients on the safety measures available is key.

Learn More About Dental Care During Pregnancy with a Family Dentist in Aurora, CO

A future mother’s main concern is often ensuring overall health during pregnancy. However, it’s easy to relegate oral care to a second place—especially if you’re unaware of how pregnancy increases the chances of developing oral issues.

Dental procedures, from diagnosis with imaging to treatment and sedations, are considered safe for pregnant patients, so don’t decay your dental check-ups at Makowski Dental. Reach out, and we’ll provide professional assistance based on your needs and pregnancy stage.