Are you expecting a child? With so many physical and lifestyle changes, it can be easy to overlook the oral health changes that often affect pregnant women. Whether you’re a first-time mom or an old pro, every expectant mother should make a special dental appointment in the first trimester to anticipate and prevent potential oral health problems.

Are you ready to make sure your teeth and gums stay healthy during your pregnancy? Call our office at 404-328-7177 for a pregnancy dental appointment with Grant Park general dentist Dr. Abbey Lee.

Pregnancy Gingivitis

Something about all the extra hormones floating around in the body makes oral tissue more sensitive and prone to inflammation during pregnancy. The blood is closer to the surface of your soft tissues, and even patients with the best oral hygiene can develop symptoms of gingivitis and gum disease.

It doesn’t happen to every woman, of course, but when it does happen, it can become a painful nightmare. Not something you want to worry about with so much going on in your life! It may start with sore gums after you floss one day and quickly develop into swollen and bleeding gums every time you try to floss. You may feel like you need to give your gums a few days to rest and heal—but failing to floss every day can actually make things worse and leave you vulnerable to bacterial infection.

What can you do to prevent this? First, an early dental visit is a great way to make sure you are starting your pregnancy with clean and healthy teeth and gums. We will give you a gentle but efficient cleaning to remove plaque and tartar and ensure you have no signs of gingivitis early on. Many pregnant women choose to switch to an alternative form of flossing during pregnancy, or at least have a game plan ready in case the gums become sensitive. Dr. Lee can help you understand the best alternatives to traditional flossing and consider which one may work best with your routines.

Other Oral Health Issues During Pregnancy

Another oral health concern that affects many pregnant women is morning sickness. When this happens, your teeth are usually the last thing you want to think about, but vomiting can have a dramatic effect on your tooth enamel. The good news is that nausea alone doesn’t damage the teeth. But if you find yourself vomiting during any stage of pregnancy, you should be aware of the affect that stomach acids have on your teeth, and how you can counteract it.

Many women don’t think about it at the time, but find out later in life that their pregnancy-related vomiting initiated the start of enamel erosion and cavities in the back of the mouth. Dr. Lee can provide you with a number of tips and facts on fighting acid erosion, as well as fluoride treatments to strengthen your tooth enamel.

Beyond the vomiting associated with morning sickness, many women have trouble brushing their teeth at various stages of their pregnancy. This, again, is often due to hormonal changes, and you may find that small changes to your routine can make oral hygiene easier to manage. For example, changing the type of toothbrush you use can help prevent the feeling of gagging that some women experience.

Call Our Grant Park Office Today!

At Smiles 4 Grant Park, we love to meet expectant mothers and help them keep their mouths healthy during pregnancy! Schedule a pregnancy visit with Grant Park general dentist Dr. Abbey Lee in your first trimester, and we’ll help you stay on top of your oral health.

We will (1) explain the signs of pregnancy gingivitis to look for, (2) clean and examine your teeth and gums, and (3) help you learn which dietary and nutrition choices are best for your oral health during this time of such immense physical changes. Call us at 404-328-7177 to schedule an appointment.