Overall Comprehensive Wellness During Pregnancy With a Dental Focus

By Duke H. Kim, DDS, MAGD

Normal pregnancy takes 40 weeks to reach full gestation, and over that time, the changes to the body are amazing and sometimes down right irritating, like to your gums.

With a focus on oral health, hormones change during pregnancy and can make the gums more sensitive and inflamed; pregnancy can affect the gums because they are responding to bacteria along the gum line.

In some cases, tumors have been reported along the soft tissue. It can sometimes present as a painless bump that can be pink, purple, or red. It will usually not cause problems, but like everything during pregnancy, see your dentist or doctor if you think you are having an issue.

Pregnancy can lead to a greater awareness of activities and foods that may negatively affect the body. It's important to avoid x-rays while pregnant, however, in the event of a dental emergency, x-rays maybe necessary. Ask your dentist to shield your abdomen, with two lead aprons to protect both you and your baby from exposure to radiation. Dental work is safe during pregnancy. The best and ideal time for treatment is between the 14th and 20th weeks.

Eating sufficient dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese) and taking a calcium supplement will ensure ample calcium without putting your teeth at risk.

Finally, many women suffer from the dreaded morning sickness. During this time, protect your teeth from stomach acid by rinsing your mouth with water or using a fluoride rinse. Please remember that it's the mother's health that's important to the baby so don't be afraid to add your dentist to your team of professionals for your pre-natal care.