Oral health advice
Changing daily habits is undoubtedly a challenging task, but pregnancy is a good time to start adopting good oral health behaviours. So when is the best time to start to look after your child’s teeth? During pregnancy is the best time. Good oral health and the absence of dental and periodontal problems during pregnancy will significantly contribute to the quality of your general health.
Diet
Balanced meals with essential nutrients will play an essential role in keeping you healthy. If a mother has a poor nutritional state during the 1st trimester of her pregnancy, it can alter her baby’s hormonal and nutritional environment during the critical period of placenta development. This may also affect the baby’s weight and health. The continuity of any maternal malnutrition during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters may continue severely impairing the growth and development of the baby.
Your diet during pregnancy may also impact on your baby’s teeth. These will begin forming around the 6th week of pregnancy and the permanent first molar will start forming around the 5th month.
Should you have a vitamin deficiency, it is important to seek medical advice, not least because the teeth which are forming could be damaged. Any deficiency is often easily resolved by your doctor recommending suitable supplements. Ultimately, pregnancy is a normal process and the vast majority of babies are born uneventfully. Having said that, every mother is advised to follow a healthy lifestyle and:
Eat healthy food in a balanced manner and at appropriate times. Such healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains like cereals and bread, meat, fish, eggs, beans and nuts.
Eat a limited amount of sugary foods and only at meal times.
Avoid sugary drinks, citric and other acidic drinks.
Eat more fresh fruit instead of fruit juice to meet the recommended daily intake.
Regular medical check-ups are recommended.
Avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.
Oral Hygiene
It is recommended:
Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste 2 or 3 times a day and use dental floss. You must always brush in the morning and before bed time, and if possible, between meals. Change your brush every 3-4 months.
If necessary, you may need to use a daily mouthwash (preferably without alcohol). Some mothers may need an microbial mouthwashes, such as chlorhexidine. You can discuss these with your dentist.
If you cannot clean your mouth after a meal you should consider a sugar-free chewing gum containing xylitol, which will help reduce the bacteria which causes tooth decay.
If reflux or vomiting becomes a major problem, you should consider rinsing your mouth with a solution of baking soda, or a fluoride containing mouthwash directly after vomiting. By doing this you will neutralise gastric acids and avoid excessive dental erosion.
"Brush in the morning, before bed time, and if possible, between meals."
