Congratulations!  You are beginning an exciting journey!

During your pregnancy you have two sets of teeth to care for..yours and your baby’s!

It is especially important during pregnancy to practice good hygiene with meticulous brushing and flossing twice daily.  High levels of plaque have been shown to cause pre-term labor.  Hormones present during pregnancy make you more likely to develop gingivitis or even frank gum disease.  You can prevent this with good hygiene practices and regular dental visits.  Often we advise that pregnant women see the hygienist every three or four months, instead of the usual six month interval. Remember, the healthier your teeth and gums, the less risk your baby has.

It is an old wives’ tale that “you lose a tooth for every baby.”  With good nutrition, good hygiene habits, and frequent dental visits, most moms don’t even develop a cavity during pregnancy.

Should a dental problem arise during pregnancy, routine dental treatment can safely be accomplished.  While we recommend no x-rays or nitrous oxide (laughing gas), you can have local anesthetic, fillings, root canals and even extractions.

The importance of good nutrition during pregnancy is something you’ve heard often from your obstetrician.  Getting enough calcium and fluoride will help your baby develop sound teeth.  Did you know that at birth, most of your baby’s twenty baby teeth have already developed and some of the permanent teeth have started development?  You should avoid the use of the antibiotic Tetracycline during pregnancy as it can cause staining of your baby’s teeth.