Dental work while pregnant-Pregnancy and dental treatment

Today we will be talking about whether dental work is safe during your pregnancy. Signs to look for with common dental diseases and how to treat them to prevent pre-term labor and pregnancy complications. 

When you’re pregnant, dental health may be the furthest thing from your mind yet.

Good dental health is essential for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Let’s explore dental health during pregnancy and why it is so important dental health is the health of your teeth, gums and mouth. It will sometimes be referred to as oral health. Your dental health care provider is usually a team consisting of a dentist and a dental hygienist.

Dental health is important during pregnancy because poor dental health is associated with a myriad of health conditions, including premature birth before 37 weeks. Premature babies are subject to a variety of health problems, including asthma, sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, and developmental delays. To assist your dentist in providing you with the best dental care, be sure to advise your dentist as soon as you know you are pregnant.

Your dentist will need to know the medications you’re taking and any medical conditions you may have been diagnosed with. With this information, they will develop a dental treatment plan to ensure proper dental health during your pregnancy.

The hormones required for pregnancy can increase the risk of dry mouth and periodontal disease. Additionally, certain medications will also impact dental health negatively there are many dental health problems that can arise during pregnancy. First, this gingivitis is swelling and inflammation of the gums. 60 to 75% of pregnant women will experience gingivitis and if left untreated, can lead to more serious dental disease.

Next is cavities or tooth decay. Which are small areas of damage on the surface of your teeth. These areas can fill with bacteria that can pass to your baby during the pregnancy. This can lead to problems with your baby’s teeth when they are older. Cavities can be caused by increased acidity in the mouth from vomiting due to morning sickness increased snacking or poor oral hygiene.

You might also experience tooth erosion also from morning sickness. This is where the surface or enamel of the tooth is worn away. After being exposed to increased amounts of stomach acid, high levels of progesterone and estrogen may loosen the bones in tissues that hold your teeth in place. Causing them to loosen during pregnancy can also cause a more sensitive gag reflex.

Making dental care, such as brushing and flossing problematic because it can trigger your morning sickness. When gingivitis is left untreated and worsens, it can lead to periodontal disease or gum disease. This is a serious infection of the gums that can cause a bacterial infection in the bloodstream or lead to teeth needing to be pulled. Periodontitis has been linked to birth complications like preterm delivery and preeclampsia.

Another leading cause of the periodontal disease is smoking. So quit smoking before you become pregnant to decrease your risk. Finally, women may develop pregnancy tumors called pathogenic granulomas. These tumors are lumps that form on your gums. Typically between your teeth. They are red and raw and they bleed very easily. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on your teeth and contains bacteria.

Pathogenic granulomas are caused by having too much plaque buildup. The good news is that these tumors are not cancer and they usually go away right after you give birth. Rarely, your dentist may need to remove them It’s important to know the signs of dental problems to look out for so you know when to contact your dentist. These signs include loose teeth bad breath, loss in the mouth, sores in the mouth, new spaces between your teeth, rash, coughing, feeling dizzy, sore throat, and gums that appear red or shiny.

Gums that bleed easily. Swollen gums tender gums. Receding gums, which is where the gums pull away from your teeth so you can see the roots of your teeth. In the gum line. Toothache and mouth pain. It’s important to seek treatment with your dentist right away. If you have any of these symptoms you want to receive treatment quickly to avoid getting an infection that could cause problems for your baby.

Now let’s talk about the prevention of dental problems during pregnancy. Prevention is key. When you are pregnant, this can help you avoid spending lots of time at the dentist and reduces the risk to your baby.

Prevention starts with routine dental exams before and during your pregnancy. During these appointments, you need to tell your dentist if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant. If you are pregnant and are considered high risk, make sure your dentist knows this information as well. Tell your dentist about all the medications you’re taking, which include prescription over-the-counter medications, supplements, vitamins, and herbal products, including teas.

In addition to regular dental exams, it’s important to receive regular dental cleanings to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Which prevents dental disease. Here are some things you can do at home to prevent dental problems during your pregnancy. Brush your teeth at least twice daily with a soft bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for approximately 2 minutes. Floss your teeth at least once per day.

But every time you brush your teeth is ideal. If morning sickness and vomiting are keeping you from brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with a mixture of one teaspoon of baking soda in one cup of water. This reduces the amount of stomach acid in your mouth and on your teeth. You rinse and swish. The solution in your mouth and then spit it out.

Do not swallow it. Also, ask your health care provider if they can recommend an acid for you to help reduce the amount of stomach acid you do have. Do not die in acid without speaking with your provider first. Make sure you don’t smoke during pregnancy because not only is it harmful to your baby, but it is also very harmful to your teeth.

Eat plenty of healthy foods during pregnancy, including fruits and vegetables, as well as foods high in protein, calcium, phosphorous, and vitamins A, C, and D. These foods help strengthen your teeth and bones and between months three and six of your pregnancy, they can also help strengthen your baby’s developing teeth after eating sweets. Make sure to brush your teeth to help avoid cavities and try to reduce the amounts of sweet sweets throughout the day.

You can also rinse a little water in your mouth to help remove acids and sweets that are clean to your teeth.

Many women are aware that x-rays can be dangerous for a growing baby during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. The radiation from an x-ray has been shown to be a risk for birth defects. However, this risk has been significantly reduced over the years because modern x-rays use only a tiny amount of radiation, and the parts of the body not being X-rayed are covered in the lead shield, preventing the radiation from entering the body.

In those locations, x-rays for dental care are very important because they can show problems with the teeth, gums, and bones of the mouth. X-rays are a standard part of dental care, and they are considered safe during pregnancy. Your dentist will provide a shield to protect you and the baby during the x-ray. Additionally, most dentists will not perform standard x-rays during pregnancy, limiting them instead to urgent or emergent dental care.

In this case, the benefit of treating your dental disease is far more important to the safety of your baby than a couple of minor x-rays with proper shielding. Both the American Dental Association ADA and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG, recommend routine dental care for pregnant women and have made statements on the safety of dental x-rays during pregnancy with the use of proper shielding.

So if you need a dental x-ray, please get a dental x-ray there are many specific questions women have about dental care, so let’s try to clear some of these up first. Can I get my teeth cleaned? The answer is yes. You can get your teeth cleaned during any trimester, but the safest time is the second trimester. The first trimester is full of lots of fetal development.

So any unnecessary procedures should be delayed unless the dentist is trying to prevent further dental disease during the third trimester, it can be hard to lay on your back for long periods of time. Can I have elective dental work done during pregnancy? It is recommended that any elective dental work or elective orthodontic work outside of regular exams and cleanings wait until after you’ve had the baby this is the same recommendation that is made for elective medical treatment.

Are anesthetics safe during pregnancy? Local anesthetic agents, including lidocaine, bupivacaine, and net pivoting are safe during pregnancy. It is also considered safe to use any of these agents when they are mixed with epinephrine. These anesthetics are most often used when you’re going to have a tooth pulled or a cavity filled. If you need to have more extensive oral surgery with the use of stronger anesthetic agents, you should discuss that with your OB-GYN or midwife before having the procedure.

They will review the risks and benefits with you and help you make an informed decision on what is best for the health of your pregnancy and your baby. Are antibiotics safe during pregnancy? Antibiotics are often prescribed for a variety of dental procedures to aid in the prevention or treatment of infection. The following antibiotics are safe for use during pregnancy amoxicillin and penicillin.

Clindamycin cephalosporins, including cephalexin and metronidazole. Pregnant women should avoid the use of tetracycline during pregnancy because it can cause staining of the teeth of the baby. What pain medication can I use after a dental procedure? Tylenol also called acetaminophen, is the most commonly used pain medication after minor dental procedures. It’s available over the counter and does not contain any codeine which providers try to avoid during pregnancy.

The most important thing for women to know is that they must take Tylenol exactly as prescribed too. Much Tylenol in a very short period can cause liver failure. When stronger pain medication is required, the dentist will prescribe a medication like codeine or hydrocodone, which is Tylenol combined with a narcotic. These will need to be used for the shortest time possible as narcotic use can lead to dependency and it’s not good for your baby.

Your dentist will not prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs like ibuprofen Motrin or Advil because these are not recommended during pregnancy. Can I use nitrous oxide during my dental work? Nitrous oxide has a risk of fatal harm if used during pregnancy, so it is not recommended for use. However, please do not confuse this with the use of nitrous oxide during labor as an alternative pain relief method that is considered safe.

Can I use these medications and anesthetics if I am breastfeeding it depends? Before any dental work, a woman should review the medications and anesthetics she will be exposed to with her health care provider or an international board-certified lactation consultant also called an IBC LC. If she is breastfeeding or providing breast milk to her baby finally, what should I do after the baby is born?

You should continue all the preventative practices mentioned in this video, including regular exam cleanings, brushing, and flossing, during your pregnancy. You have an increased risk of dental diseases and problems which can put your pregnancy at risk for complications. I hope this is explained what signs you need to look out for and has shown you how safe and necessary dental work can be during your pregnancy.