7 Important Guidelines for Oral Health that Pregnant Women Should Remember

Pregnant women can improve their oral health if they look for information concerning oral health, regularly brush and floss to get rid of bacterial plaque, include fluoride toothpaste and fluoride rinse into your routine, consume a well-balanced diet, tooth decay should be treated, don't share food or utensils with anyone, and xylitol gum should be chewed to decrease the rate of tooth decay.

Developing healthy oral habits is important for all people. Expectant mothers must also be extra careful with their oral hygiene. Pregnant women who do not have good oral hygiene may become prone to gum disease such as gingivitis. Pregnancy gingivitis raises the probability of preterm birth. Expectant mothers should consider the following set of guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAP):

Find information about oral health

You will gain better awareness on the advantages of good oral hygiene if you schedule regular visits with your dentist Royal Oak. You can also get necessary resources and tools about appropriate oral health from healthcare providers. It is also important to discuss any oral health concerns that you have with these healthcare providers if you are pregnant or even if you are still planning a pregnancy. Potential health problems that are commonly linked to gum disease can also be identified by your dentist.

Remove bacterial plaque by brushing and flossing regularly

Researchers have discovered that bacterial plaque is connected to incidents of preterm birth and low birth-weight in babies. Due to this, it is important to brush and floss in the proper way to aid in the removal of bacterial plaque. The right way of brushing your teeth is working in circular motions and brushing all reachable sides of the teeth. Flossing is essential for cleaning the parts of the teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Always rinse your mouth after flossing.

Use toothpaste and rinse that has fluoride

It is recommended that people over 6 years old use toothpaste that has fluoride. Fluoridated toothpaste is also an integral part in the oral health practices of pregnant women. To reduce plaque, pregnant women can also use over-the-counter fluoride rinses that do not contain any alcohol.

Consume a well-balanced diet

A healthy diet can promote excellent nutrition for mothers as well as their kids, and their teeth. Unnecessary sugary food should be avoided because these can increase plaque.

Have tooth decay treated

The procedure for treating tooth decay is considered safe even during pregnancy so experts suggest that pregnant women have their tooth decay treated. Aside from removing bacteria that results from tooth decay, the treatment will also improve overall oral health.

Avoid sharing food or utensils

Tooth decay-causing bacteria can be transmitted easily through shared eating utensils and food. That's why pregnant women should not share the utensils they use or food.

Chew gum with xylitol

Some research suggests that xylitol gum can decrease the rate of tooth decay in children. As such, pregnant women are encouraged to chew this type of gum at least 4 times daily.

Following these oral health guidelines will not only promote the oral health of pregnant women but the overall welfare of both mother and child during and after the pregnancy.