Pregnancy is an exciting time for women, many of whom think lives are about to change forever. However, many questions are raised by women about which dental treatments are safe during pregnancy? This article looks at why it is incredibly essential to keep your oral health optimal when pregnant because you are at higher risk of developing issues like tooth decay and gum disease.
Misconceptions are spreading around that visiting the dentist when pregnant is harmful to babies. Unfortunately, the information is nothing but a tale that is best ignored. Studies reveal that about 50 percent of women believe this tale and expose themselves to severe issues by avoiding visits to their dentist.
Pregnant women or those who are planning pregnancy must understand it may be a good idea for them to have any outstanding dental issues like wisdom teeth extraction dealt with by their dentist to ensure the risk of complications is reduced. Let us look at some questions that are doing the rounds and are perceived as the truth.
Dental Visits During Pregnancy Are Not Necessary
On the contrary, dental visits during pregnancy become essential because you cannot let tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues affect you. Your dental health has a significant impact on your overall health, meaning it can also influence your baby’s growth.
It will help if you continue regular visits to your dentist for exams and cleanings even when you are not pregnant. The Mesa dentist recommends several appointments during pregnancy to check your teeth and gums’ health and suggest changes to your oral hygiene routine if necessary.
Is Anesthesia Safe during Pregnancy?
If you must have an intensive dental procedure during pregnancy, anesthesia is an unavoidable necessity. However, you must inform your dentist about your pregnancy to ensure they chose appropriate anesthetics and administer them at levels best for your situation.
Some varieties of anesthesia contain felypressin, which constricts blood vessels. If you have any concerns about the type of anesthesia offered, do not hesitate to ask your dental practitioner questions to satisfy yourself. Dentists use the lowest concentration of anesthesia for the procedure you are undergoing to ensure you are entirely comfortable and relaxed.
What If You Experience a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies can affect anyone at any time. If you are pregnant and encounter a dental emergency needing root canal treatment, rest assured the treatment is performed at any stage of pregnancy. Root canal treatments mustn’t be delayed because the bacteria from the infection can spread to your bloodstream even to affect the baby. The therapy relieves you from the pain you are experiencing and also preserves your natural tooth.
Can You Have Orthodontic Treatments during Pregnancy?
Stopping orthodontic treatments merely because you are pregnant is not a wise decision. Not only should you continue orthodontic therapies during pregnancy, but if indeed, you can even have new braces fitted on your teeth. Your dentist or orthodontist may recommend that you wait until the birth of your child to avoid any complications that may arise.
Getting braces fitted in your mouth requires x-rays that are usually avoided during the first trimester. Changes to your face and mouth can happen when you gain weight during pregnancy. These issues will need you to visit the orthodontist frequently to adjust the braces. The changes mentioned can increase the costs of orthodontic treatment to put financial burdens on you.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe during Pregnancy?
Teeth whitening and any other elective procedures are performed during pregnancy, but dentists recommend waiting until the birth of the child for most elective treatments. It would be helpful to avoid teeth whitening treatments during the third trimester because you may find it uncomfortable to lie still when the whitening procedure is ongoing.
If you use home teeth, whitening kits make sure you check the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, which mustn’t be more than six percent. Higher concentrations must only be applied by a qualified dental professional.
Can You Avoid Dental Treatments during Pregnancy?
If you follow acceptable oral hygiene practices, you are unlikely to require intensive dental procedures during pregnancy. So long as you maintain your brushing and flossing at appropriate levels and keep a check on unhealthy food cravings, you can easily manage to avoid dental treatments during pregnancy.
Morning sickness affects everyone, and it would be helpful if you avoid brushing your teeth after a bout of morning sickness. Brushing soon after throwing up can damage the enamel surface of your teeth. In such cases, rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth after 30 minutes.