Dental Care while Pregnant

During pregnancy, maternal health greatly influences the condition of the baby it contains, including dental and oral health. If not treated properly, teeth can cause general health problems, both in the mother and fetus.

Diseases of the teeth and mouth, such as cavities and inflammation of the gums, are susceptible to pregnancy. The increased risk of dental disorders in pregnancy is caused by various changes in the body of pregnant women.

In addition, nausea and vomiting commonly experienced by pregnant women can cause acidic mouth conditions, so the teeth easily become hollow and become a place for developing germs. Increases in the hormones estrogen and progesterone can also cause inflammation of the gums.

Things to Look For Before Doing Dental Care while Pregnant
Given the large risk of toothache during pregnancy, dental care is very necessary. If you are pregnant and want to undergo dental treatment, the first thing to do is to tell the condition of your pregnancy to the dentist.

Information about gestational age and the condition of your pregnancy will help the dentist determine the right course of action. In addition, there are a number of things you need to pay attention to regarding dental care during pregnancy, namely:

1. Consult the obstetrician first
Before visiting the dentist, you should consult with an obstetrician first. This aims to see if your pregnancy is in good condition and allows for dental treatment.

2. Regular dental care can be done during pregnancy
Routine dental care, such as cleaning teeth, can be done in the first trimester to the third trimester of pregnancy. In addition, actions that are emergency, such as pulling teeth can also be done during pregnancy.

3. The second trimester is the safest period
In the second trimester of pregnancy, pregnant women are in a good and stable emotional condition. Treatment that can be done is cleaning tartar (scaling teeth) and fillings of teeth. Extraction of teeth using local anesthesia can be done, but it needs to be approved by the obstetrician first.

4. Delay dental treatment in the third trimester
During the third trimester of pregnancy, it is better for pregnant women to postpone a visit to the dentist until after giving birth. In this trimester, the condition of pregnant women is quite sensitive, so some actions can trigger premature babies born.

Tips for Doing Dental Care while Pregnant
The lack of action that a dentist can do during pregnancy can be a motivation for you to keep your teeth and mouth clean, so you don't experience toothache. Below are tips on maintaining oral health during pregnancy:

1. Brush your teeth with toothpaste containing fluoride, twice a day.
2. Wear a toothbrush with a soft brush.
3. Reduce consumption of sweet foods because it can cause damage to the teeth.
4. Drink plenty of water.
5. If you experience morning sickness, rinse with water after vomiting and brush your teeth one hour later.
6. Do not brush your teeth immediately after vomiting, because shortly after vomiting, the outermost layer of the tooth can become soft due to stomach acid.

Maintaining good dental and oral health will help you go through the pregnancy smoothly. Therefore, you need to undergo a dental and oral examination to the dentist regularly, since you are planning a pregnancy.