Pregnancy is amazing, but it also brings many changes to a woman’s body as you are slowly preparing for the arrival of your newborn, its essential to take care of yourself. Your health is of the utmost importance during this time, so it’s best to monitor everything. This includes your oral health! Here is how pregnancy and oral health correlate during the nine months your baby is growing!

One of the everyday things that change during pregnancy is your oral health. According to Better Health , pregnancy does not automatically damage your teeth, but the increased hormones can affect the body’s response to plaque. Plaque is usually one of the leading causes of most dental issues. Plaque is the layer of germs and bacteria that forms on your teeth. It can cause things like gum disease, tooth decay, gingivitis, and so much more. Plaque forms from things like food being stuck, not brushing your teeth, sugar, and so much more. If plaque is not cared for, it can turn to tartar. Once there is tartar on your teeth, no routine at-home brushing can remove it. You must see dental professionals to remove tartar. They have all the special tools needed to remove tartar without further damaging your teeth safely. This is one of the reasons why it is so crucial for pregnant women to keep up with their dental care during pregnancy.

Dental disease affects not only mom, but it can affect the baby too. Oral health has a significant link to your physical health. For example, if you are not taking the best care of your teeth, you are more likely to get sick. This is because there is a higher chance of getting sick when your immune system is already down. Your body will be working overtime over the next nine months to ensure your baby is appropriately growing and safe. Research has found that there is a link between gum disease and pregnant women. This can cause premature births with low birth weights. Estimates show that up to 18 out of every 100 premature births may be triggered by periodontal disease (gum disease).

So what can you do to protect you and your baby from gum disease and other oral issues? Lots of things! One of the best things to do is call your dentist as soon as you find out that you are pregnant and they will go from there. It’s super important to brush your teeth twice daily and floss. This keeps the likelihood of bacteria growing pretty low, thus decreasing the chance of infections. Regardless if you are pregnant or not, you should visit your dentist twice a year. This is so the dentist can keep tabs on your dental health. As stated before, there are some things that can only be cleaned with professional dental tools. If you commit yourself to seeing the dentist twice a year, you promise yourself better health. Your dental hygienists and doctors stress the importance of dental care during pregnancy. Make sure to brush your teeth and take care of yourself!

If you want to learn more about the effects pregnancy has on oral health, visit us at South Holston Dental Designs. At South Holston, we provide a variety of services to help meet the needs of others. Not only will your teeth be clean, but baby will be feel good as well! Check us out online here for more information today! Ensure you’re staying healthy during your pregnancy.

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