DENTAL CARE AND PREGNANCY

It would be the happiest moment to know that you are going to be a mom. At the same time it is very important and very crucial to take at most care of your overall health which also includes your oral health.

You may have heard of an old saying “you lose a tooth for every pregnancy”. In a way that is true.  It is quite common to have dental problems during pregnancy. It is important to visit a dentist before getting pregnant. This way your overall oral health will be examined and oral health problems can be treated in advance of your pregnancy.

Most common problem faced during pregnancy is pregnancy gingivitis. Your teeth and gums are affected by pregnancy just as other tissues in your body. You may observe swollen gums, bleeding gums and it’s caused due to the bacteria that grow on teeth resulting in plaque. This plaque irritates the gums causing bleeding. This condition is termed pregnancy gingivitis.

The hormonal changes during pregnancy alter the way the body responds against the bacteria leading to gum disease. As these bacteria can enter the bloodstream, they can travel all the way down to the uterus. This can trigger the body to produce prostaglandins which control inflammation and cause smooth muscle contraction leading to premature births and low birth-weights.

If gingivitis is not treated at the earliest it may progress to a more chronic form known as periodontal disease wherein the supporting gum tissues and the bone are corroded away leading to loosening of teeth.

pregnancy gingivitis can be treated by a professional cleaning of teeth and removes plaque. In severe cases, a procedure to clean the roots of your teeth known as root planning may be required.

To prevent gum disease:

•  Brush your teeth at least 2 times a day preferably after every meal. 
• Use mouth wash and floss. If you suffer from morning sickness rinse your mouth with water to neutralize the acid caused by vomiting. 
• Your baby’s teeth begin to develop about three months into pregnancy  hence eat a healthy balanced diet rich in Vitamin B12 and C, dairy products rich in calcium and minerals that is good for baby’s teeth, gums and bone.
• Schedule routine checkups and dental cleanings.

Care to be taken during pregnancy:

• Avoid dental procedures during your first and third trimesters as these are the critical times of your 
• Baby’s growth and development.
• Avoid dental X-rays.
• Avoid antibiotics such as tetracycline which cause discoloration of your baby’s teeth.
• Any emergency dental procedures like fillings, root canal treatment or crowns are safe to be performed during your second trimester.

Be healthy and keep your baby healthy !!!!

INFANT ORAL HEALTH

Infant is referred to a child from 1 month to 12 months of age.

Oral care of infants is very crucial as the bacteria lodges the oral cavity within few hours after birth.

Oral mucosa is the first in the human body where microorganisms are seen to be established soon after the birth within 6 to 8 hours in an infant.

The primary causative factor responsible in initiation of dental caries is transmitted from mother to the infant. These gather a foothold in the mouth immediately after the eruption of teeth.

Eruption of teeth begins at 6 to 10 months of age and completes by 3 years of age, But even before that the oral cavity should be maintained clean.

Oral hygiene practices to be followed : 

• Prolonged Breast feeding, especially throughout the night and sometimes day has been associated with nursing caries.   
• Remove the bottle immediately after feeding.
• Give water after feeding with the bottle and clean mouth soon after feeding. 
• The cleaning activity should be performed after every meal or at least once in a day. 
• The cleaning of gum pads can be started as early as within the first week of birth. Nowadays specially designed for infants tooth brushes, finger cots and wipes are available. 
•  Clean everyday twice after morning and last feed in the night. 
•  Spend at least two or three minutes in cleaning.   
•  Dilute the milk gradually in the bottle and end with plain water. 
• You can start with semi-solid foods by 5-6 months and reduce use of bottle or breast feeding. 
•  Avoid extended use of sugared medicines such as syrups.

Importance of mother’s own oral hygiene is equally important as poor oral health of the mother can affect the health of the fetus and the new born.

Poor maternal periodontal health increases the potential for pre-mature low birth weight of babies and high caries level in the mother result in an equally high level in the child.

                  Start it at the earliest to maintain a healthy oral cavity of your child !!!!