Is Dental Care Part of Maternity Care?
An unfortunate common myth is that pregnant women should never visit the dentist. The false belief that visiting a dentist somehow puts both the expectant mother and her baby in danger has been passed from one generation to another and it seems it will never go away. Unfortunately, no one really knows why or how this theory came into being. What is even more alarming is that this myth is yet to be completely dispelled.
But it’s clear that this is a false belief. Our mouths are the ultimate gateway to the digestive system as well as blood vessels. And this implies that oral health largely determined an individual’s overall health. But for some reason, a significant number of pregnant mothers don’t want to visit their dentists. This is perhaps because, generally, pregnant mothers are highly concerned about ensuring they don’t do anything that might pose danger to the health or life of their unborn babies. So, today in this post, we are going to provide you with a few compelling reasons why dental care should be regarded as a safe aspect of maternity care.
The risk of periodontal and dry mouth diseases increases when a woman either starts using some medication or experiences a hormonal change. As a result, expectant mothers are highly advised to brush and floss at least twice daily. And while this might sound excessive, it is worth it because it helps tackle the issues that reactive sweets and candy can present. It is common knowledge that pregnant women often crave sweets. And by regularly brushing your teeth as a pregnant mother, you can prevent both cavities and gum infections.
What’s more, there are two potential problems that are likely to cause oral health issues. And one of them is vomiting, which many pregnant mothers experience in the form of morning sickness. Vomiting causes teeth erosion. Though rare, the hormones that pregnant women often have can promote mouth growth. And while these growths or benign are neither health nor life-threatening, they can be disturbing.
Usually, babies’ teeth start to develop within three to six months, implying that expectant mothers must carefully watch what they consume to safeguard the health of their babies’ teeth. It is also imperative to note that during each trimester, it is usually safe for an expectant mother to have dental treatment. However, the safest period is the second trimester. Also, it is worth noting that scheduling an appointment with your local dentist during your third trimester isn’t a bad choice either.
In general, there is no concrete reason why pregnant women shouldn’t visit a dentist for dental treatment. Important to note is that some dental professionals suggest that there might be a close relationship between unwanted pregnancy and birth problems, such as a condition referred to as preeclampsia and gum or periodontal disease. Again, this is just a mere theory that is yet to be established through clinical research.
Lastly, there are some local anesthetics that are presumed to be safe for expectant mothers, including lidocaine as well as mepivacaine. However, if you are looking to undergo a treatment that requires the use of local anesthesia, you must first have a discussion with your GYN/OB to determine whether you should use the above-mentioned anesthetic drugs.
For more information regarding your dental health, please give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today! We are located in Warren, MI and we can be reached at 586-573-7700!