Taking good care of your teeth during pregnancy is very important.  The hormonal changes caused by pregnancy increase your risk of developing gum disease.  As your hormones change during your pregnancy your can lead to additional swelling and bleeding of your gums.  Gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of premature labor and birth.

It is, of course, always important to practice good oral hygiene, but, given the risk that gum disease poses to your pregnancy it is even more important during pregnancy.  Making sure you brush and floss regularly, visit your dentist for regularly scheduled cleanings and check ups and avoiding sugary snacks and carbonated sodas that can lead to tooth decay are all ways that you can maintain good oral health.

Many women are concerned about visiting the dentist during pregnancy.  Regular dental care, such as regular check ups and cleanings, cavity fillings, etc are all safe during pregnancy.  It is safest to get dental work done during your second trimester due to comfort levels for you, as well as decreasing any potential risk on the growing fetus.

During the first trimester many women experience the ugly pregnancy symptom know commonly as morning sickness.  This feeling of nausea and sometimes vomiting make you want to avoid brushing your teeth, especially since the taste of toothpaste can often trigger the nausea and vomiting.  However, it is important to still continue brushing your teeth regularly, especially after vomiting as the acid in vomit can lead to tooth decay.  There are bland tasting toothpastes on the market that may making the deed of brushing your teeth during the early months of pregnancy that much easier.

Good oral hygiene and regular dental check ups during pregnancy are vital, however, there are a few things you should avoid during pregnancy.  They include: routine oral x-rays (unless necessary to deal with a dental emergency), dental procedures like fillings should be avoided during the first trimester and later half of the third trimester, although oral anesthesia is safe you should avoid high doses of the anesthesia so be sure to talk to your doctor and your dentist before having any dental treatments done that require anesthesia.

So, the bottom line is, brush, floss, check in with your dentist on your regular schedule and take care of those teeth.

If you are concerned about whether something is safe or not be sure to discuss it with your doctor and your dentist before proceeding.