Pregnancy goes hand-in-hand with a mind-boggling number of concerns and challenges for the parents-to-be. Picking out a name, choosing a color for the nursery, rushing to the 24 hour convenient store at 2am for pickles and peanut-butter, child-proofing the house and birthing classes are only the tip of the giant iceberg of stresses and joys a budding family experiences at the prospect of bringing a new life into the world. The health of your teeth and gums during this time are probably about as far from the mind of the mother-to-be as ex-planet Pluto is from the Sun. And why shouldn’t it be? Well, says the Arlington dentist, this is because pregnancy puts women at a higher risk of gum disease!
Advice from the Arlington TX Dentist: Your Oral Health during Pregnancy
You brush twice a day and floss when you remember to. And it’s only been about a year since your last appointment with the Arlington dentist, which probably makes you the average patient. So, why should your oral health and hygiene habits change during pregnancy? Pregnancy brings about certain hormonal changes in women, says the Arlington dentist. And these can increase your chance of developing an oral bacterial infection of the gums, gingivitis, or even periodontitis; it’s acute and chronic form. These gum problems are caused by bacteria that are naturally found in your mouth, explains the Arlington TX dentist. The only difference is that while you’re pregnant, hormonal changes cause your body to respond more readily to the bacteria in plaque. As a result, your gums can swell and become inflamed, even if your oral hygienic habits have remained the same, says the Arlington dentist.
Other common causes of dental problems during pregnancy arise from:
- The frequent acid bath your teeth and gums get as a result of morning sickness, says the Arlington dentist.
- Pregnant women can also experience cravings for sugary foods, which encourage bacterial growth in between brushes.
- A heightened gag reflex, which can make it tricky for pregnant women to give their teeth and tongue the thorough brushing they need to remain as bacteria-free as possible, explains the Arlington TX dentist.
Advice from the Arlington TX Dentist: What You Can Do
According to the Arlington dentist, 
proper oral hygiene is fundamental during pregnancy because just as being a mother-to-be puts the health of your teeth and gums on the line, so too can the health of your teeth and gums affect your unborn baby. Research has shown there to be a clear link between advanced oral bacterial infection and the incidence of under-weight babies and premature birthing, says the Arlington TX dentist. While it’s not uncommon for babies to be born before their due date, there are always associated risks and potentially severe health implications for both mother and child. Think about how important your diet is to your unborn child. Would you really want to have a mouth teeming with bacteria? It’s no wonder the Arlington dentist stresses the importance of proper oral hygiene to pregnant women!
So, what can you do to protect your oral and general health during this exciting time?
Advice from the Arlington TX Dentist: Stay Tuned
To read the Arlington dentist’s advice on oral health during pregnancy, stay tuned for the next installment of this two part series.
