Visit Our Family Dentist in Brick NJ to Get the Best Dental Care
Visiting the dentist is always a good oral health habit, especially for pregnant women. Hormonal activity during pregnancy increases the risk of getting oral health conditions such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth decay, and formation of cavities.
Other oral health conditions attributed to pregnancy include the following:
- Infection from any of these conditions can place both the mother and the baby in danger. Untreated periodontal disease can be the cause of premature and/or low-weight birth.
- Consistent vomiting from morning sickness can seriously damage your teeth as the acid from the stomach weakens and dissolves tooth enamel and impairs its ability to combat tooth decay.
While it is okay to visit the dentist during pregnancy, it is considered wise to set an appointment before planning on getting pregnant or when you’re still suspecting. There are two reasons for this:
(1) to ensure that your oral health is at its best before the effects of hormonal activity arise, particularly with oral health conditions.
(2) to get an assessment of your oral condition and come up with a dental treatment arrangement with your dentist throughout the entire pregnancy.
Scheduling a visit to the dentist’s office is advised within the second trimester of one’s pregnancy for professional cleaning, oral hygiene assessment, and monitoring changes that might have occurred. An early third-trimester visit may be scheduled as a follow-up.
It is very important to keep these visits as brief as deemed necessary. The ideal time for any dental treatment, basic or complex, is within the fourth through the sixth month. Dental treatments that require anesthesia or other medications should be avoided since this could trigger a miscarriage, especially when done during the first trimester of pregnancy. Elective or cosmetic dental procedures are to be delayed until the baby comes out. X-rays should only be taken in emergency cases.
Conclusion
As a final note, you are also advised to visit the dentist post-pregnancy to ensure that your oral health is in top condition and have not suffered much from pregnancy hormonal fluctuations. So contact our Family dentist in Brick NJ to schedule your next dental appointment.