Your pregnancy weight gain is healthy, you are eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and you haven’t missed a checkup with your gynecologist. It seems you’ve got it all covered, right? Well, maybe not. Have you seen your dentist recently? A significant risk factor for your and your baby’shealth might be in a surprising place- your mouth.

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase your risk for developing oral health problems like inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), gum diseases (periodontitis) and caries.

As a result of varying hormone levels, research indicates that 40% of women develop gingivitis sometime during their pregnancy; a condition called pregnancy gingivitis.

Research indicates that oral health is not a priority for people and especially pregnant women. With increased chances of gum disease, pregnant women are more prone to caries which if not taken care of at early stages can lead to pulp and peripical infection which are painful conditions and cannot be completed treated during the first and third trimester due to medications taken along with them.

Thus, a recommendation is that as you are planning to conceive, do plan to visit your dentist so that such a situation can be avoided.

Researchers of one study who published their results in The Journal of the American Dental Association found that pregnant women with chronic gum disease were four to seven times more likely to deliver prematurely (before gestational week 37) and underweight babies than mothers with healthy gums.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR:

1. Gum soreness
2. Gum redness
3. Bleeding when brushing or flossing
4. Persistent bad breath

In case you notice any of these signs, schedule a visit to the dentist at the earliest.

Being pregnant, you need to be extra cautious about your health as now it is not only your life that you are responsible for.

A visit to the dentist on a regular basis is important to ensure your gums are healthy and you are protecting yourself and your unborn baby.

WHAT CAN YOU DO:

Practicing good oral hygiene is one of the easiest ways to keep yourself away from any type of gum disease. Focus should be on effective removal of plaque from your teeth. Plaque can be effectively removed by practicing proper oral hygiene methods, which includes tooth brushing, mouth rinsing, flossing etc. To know more about proper tooth brushing techniques, you can refer to our blog.

Even if you are practicing good oral hygiene, it is best to visit a dentist to be sure that everything is in order.

Dent Ally is one of the best dental clinics in Delhi where we have a team of periodontists and preventive dentists who are trained and specialized to take utmost care of your gums and oral cavity.

Dent Ally is the best dental clinic in Delhi with the best team of dentists such as prosthodontists, orthodontists, pediatric dentists, endodontists, oral surgeons etc. who are specialized and experienced in all dental treatments such as pain free root canals, dental implants, smile design, orthodontics (braces), extractions, and much more.