Visiting the Dentist While Pregnant: Is It Safe?

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it also brings a multitude of health concerns that are important for expecting mothers to be aware of. One of these concerns is dental hygiene – can you visit the dentist while pregnant, and if so, is it safe?

The short answer is yes – you can and should visit the dentist while pregnant. It is safe to go to the dentist during pregnancy as long as certain precautions are taken to ensure your safety and that of your baby. Any treatments or procedures that can wait until after delivery should always be scheduled at a later date so you can avoid any unnecessary risks. No x-rays will be taken during any stage of pregnancy.

There are several reasons why dental hygiene should be given special attention during pregnancy. As hormones fluctuate throughout this time period, teeth and gums may become more sensitive and vulnerable to decay or infection. For example, morning sickness may cause acid reflux which can wear down tooth enamel over time. Additionally, changes in diet may increase carbohydrate consumption with sugary snacks leading to an increased risk of cavities. To avoid these negative effects on your teeth and gums and potentially save yourself from major dental work down the road, now is a great time to start good hygiene habits including brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once per day.

In addition to checkups and cleanings during pregnancy, you may need work done such as fillings for cavities or procedures like scaling (to remove plaque). Thankfully advances in technology have improved dental practices so procedures such as freezing in the mouth for fillings are done with minimal risk during pregnancy. Before any procedure is done however it’s important to always speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any concerns you have related to medications that may be administered during treatment – some medications can be passed through breast milk so it’s best not to take anything unnecessary if possible.

To sum up, taking care of your dental health doesn’t have to take a back seat while pregnant – although this may feel like a challenging task due to extra sensitivity issues related with hormones – by taking preventive measures such as regular brushing & flossing to visiting the dentist whenever necessary you can safeguard against potential risks both now and postpartum.