What to Know About Taking Care of Your Teeth During Pregnancy

If you’ve just learned you’re expecting, you probably have lots of things on your mind. You’re thinking ahead to your child’s nursery, wondering what pediatrician to choose, and worrying about whether you’re doing all you can to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
One thing you may not consider. Your dental health—and your child’s dental health. Read on as we fill you in on what you need to know. It is important for both you and your baby  to know about taking care of your teeth during pregnancy.

How Pregnancy Impacts Your Dental Health…Taking Care of Your Teeth During Pregnancy

For one, you may develop what’s called “pregnancy gingivitis,” a mild form of this gum disease that’s common during pregnancy. This will cause your gums to become tender and swollen but typically disappears after birth.

Weirdly enough, you may also feel as if your teeth are loose. That’s because hormones prevalent during pregnancy such as progesterone and estrogen can loosen the ligaments and bones. If you feel this sensation and it seems like your teeth are moving, chat with your dentist.

Believe it or not, morning sickness also impacts your dental health. That’s because vomiting exposes your teeth to stomach acids, so be sure to rinse your mouth out to prevent damage.

What to Know About Tooth Development
Now that we’ve talked about your dental health, let’s talk about your child’s. Even though they won’t erupt through the gums for many months, your child’s teeth begin to develop between the third and sixth months of pregnancy.

What you eat can make a big difference in ensuring your baby’s teeth develop properly. You want to make sure you’re getting plenty of calcium, phosphorous, and vitamins A, C, and D.

To get enough calcium, you can choose milk products, including yogurt and cheese. Or if you don’t love dairy, you can also get calcium in kale, broccoli, and fish with soft bones, such as canned sardines. Dairy products also contain a solid dose of phosphorus.

Vitamin A can be found in green, leafy vegetables and fruit. Citrus fruits and other fruits and vegetables also contain hefty doses of vitamin C.

Your body needs vitamin D to help it properly absorb calcium, but there aren’t a ton of food sources of this nutrient. It can be found in fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, along with egg yolks and cheese.

Our family has been proudly handcrafting smiles in Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Centennial, Castle Pines, and Parker area since 1982.
Have other dental questions or need to schedule an appointment? Get in touch with our Cottonwood Dental Group specialists today.