At McAdams Dental, we have been seeing more than our fair share of pregnant patients lately, maybe it’s just another sign that spring is here or maybe it’s the fact that several of our patients have left sparkling yelp reviews about our meticulous care of their teeth during their pregnancy. Whatever the reason, we are happy to share a bit of information with you regarding our approach to keeping our expecting mommy smiling.
Stay ahead of the game if you can:
It all starts with a good plan, if you are thinking about starting a family or adding another set of baby teeth to your home, you should do your best to minimize the potential for dental emergency during your pregnancy. What a great time to visit your friendly neighborhood dentist for a checkup and perhaps a dental intervention if you need one so that you can delay an emergency dental visit for another 9 months. Dr. McAdams always says a filling now can help avoid root canals and crowns later!
But what if it’s already too late? Maybe you just found out you are pregnant and now you realize your pesky toothache is getting worse…what to do? A savvy dentist will do everything in his power to delay your emergency dental treatment until your second trimester, or after delivery, however sometimes this is just not an option!
Pregnant women need to take very good care of their gums!
Studies show that almost 40% of pregnant women have some form of periodontal disease which is a bad statistic when you consider that this type of condition makes you up to 7 times more likely to deliver a pre-term, low birth weight baby! Hormonal changes will make your mouth buildup plaque faster and cause extra irritation in your gums. Excessive gum irritation in some pregnant women can lead to pregnancy tumors on the gums that should be examined by your dentist. This is why we recommend an extra dental cleaning appointment during your pregnancy. You may be surprised to learn that your insurance may cover this extra cleaning…we were! And if even the insurance companies are happy to pay for this, it must be good for you!
Pregnant women also need to take extra care of their teeth!
When you consider how much calcium your baby will need, you can guess that it will come from your hard tissues (bones and teeth) if you aren’t taking in enough in your diet! Moms need to consult with their doctor about appropriate pre-natal vitamin regimens to ensure that you keep your bones and teeth healthy during pregnancy. Also, consider that stomach acids are likely the most damaging liquids your teeth will ever come in contact with. Moms who have morning sickness need to rinse with water after this unpleasant experience, and consider swishing a fluoride containing mouthwash afterwards, instead of brushing your recently softened enamel after vomiting!
“Ain’t it good to know, you’ve got a friend?” - James Taylor: We are here if you need us!
Whatever you do, it is best to keep your mouth healthy when pregnant and not let ongoing problems jeopardize the health of your baby. If you need dental treatment during pregnancy, you should find a dentist who you trust to treat you safely and efficiently. At McAdams dental, we use lead shields to protect you from our already low radiation digital x-rays, sensitive formulations of local anesthetic to avoid complications for your little one, and consult with your OBGYN about the most ideal prescription medications for the two of you should it be necessary. We always employ a “least invasive” treatment planning type and do our best to get you comfortable so you can enjoy being an expectant mother with a great big smile!
For more information about this important topic, visit the ADA website at:
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/life-stages/pregnancy/pregnancy-dental-concerns
Would you like to learn more about caring for your teeth during pregnancy or are you just looking for a dentist who cares about your smile? If you are in the Phoenix area and looking for a dental home where your family is our top priority, maybe we are the office for you…we would love to meet you!
Stay ahead of the game if you can:
It all starts with a good plan, if you are thinking about starting a family or adding another set of baby teeth to your home, you should do your best to minimize the potential for dental emergency during your pregnancy. What a great time to visit your friendly neighborhood dentist for a checkup and perhaps a dental intervention if you need one so that you can delay an emergency dental visit for another 9 months. Dr. McAdams always says a filling now can help avoid root canals and crowns later!
But what if it’s already too late? Maybe you just found out you are pregnant and now you realize your pesky toothache is getting worse…what to do? A savvy dentist will do everything in his power to delay your emergency dental treatment until your second trimester, or after delivery, however sometimes this is just not an option!
Pregnant women need to take very good care of their gums!
Studies show that almost 40% of pregnant women have some form of periodontal disease which is a bad statistic when you consider that this type of condition makes you up to 7 times more likely to deliver a pre-term, low birth weight baby! Hormonal changes will make your mouth buildup plaque faster and cause extra irritation in your gums. Excessive gum irritation in some pregnant women can lead to pregnancy tumors on the gums that should be examined by your dentist. This is why we recommend an extra dental cleaning appointment during your pregnancy. You may be surprised to learn that your insurance may cover this extra cleaning…we were! And if even the insurance companies are happy to pay for this, it must be good for you!
Pregnant women also need to take extra care of their teeth!
When you consider how much calcium your baby will need, you can guess that it will come from your hard tissues (bones and teeth) if you aren’t taking in enough in your diet! Moms need to consult with their doctor about appropriate pre-natal vitamin regimens to ensure that you keep your bones and teeth healthy during pregnancy. Also, consider that stomach acids are likely the most damaging liquids your teeth will ever come in contact with. Moms who have morning sickness need to rinse with water after this unpleasant experience, and consider swishing a fluoride containing mouthwash afterwards, instead of brushing your recently softened enamel after vomiting!
“Ain’t it good to know, you’ve got a friend?” - James Taylor: We are here if you need us!
Whatever you do, it is best to keep your mouth healthy when pregnant and not let ongoing problems jeopardize the health of your baby. If you need dental treatment during pregnancy, you should find a dentist who you trust to treat you safely and efficiently. At McAdams dental, we use lead shields to protect you from our already low radiation digital x-rays, sensitive formulations of local anesthetic to avoid complications for your little one, and consult with your OBGYN about the most ideal prescription medications for the two of you should it be necessary. We always employ a “least invasive” treatment planning type and do our best to get you comfortable so you can enjoy being an expectant mother with a great big smile!
For more information about this important topic, visit the ADA website at:
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/life-stages/pregnancy/pregnancy-dental-concerns
Would you like to learn more about caring for your teeth during pregnancy or are you just looking for a dentist who cares about your smile? If you are in the Phoenix area and looking for a dental home where your family is our top priority, maybe we are the office for you…we would love to meet you!
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