Visiting Family Dentist During Pregnancy

When you are expecting a baby, there are so many “do’s” and “don’ts” that you have to remember. You must keep track of things you can and cannot eat, positions you can and cannot sleep in, and activities you can and cannot do. One of the most misunderstood activities you might be considering is visiting the family dentist. You may hear from some well-meaning people that you should wait until your nine months, but if you are due for a checkup and wait, you could be putting your teeth at risk. Here is what you need to know about visiting the dental office while pregnant.

First of all, it is completely safe to visit the dental office for a traditional checkup and teeth cleaning during pregnancy, according to most OB-GYN doctors. In fact, some will even recommend it, because it is possible for gum disease to cause a premature birth, which is harmful to your baby. This is because inflammation in the body increases hormones and inflammatory molecules in the bloodstream. This can trigger uterine contractions, and if these contractions go unchecked, the baby could be born early. Gum disease can cause this problematic inflammation, and a trip to the family dentist is one tool in your oral hygiene arsenal to help combat this problem.

One concern some OB-GYNs voice about dental visits during pregnancy is whether or not the mother should have x-rays. This will depend on the desires of your obstetrician, but many will allow patients to have x-rays because they will only be x-raying the mouth, not any part near the baby. Women can wear lead aprons over their tummies to provide further protection for their unborn babies while they receive x-rays of their teeth.

If your family dentist has a tendency to place you flat on your back with your head below your heart while he works on you, you might begin to feel ill or dizzy, particularly if you are far along in your pregnancy. To combat this problem, make sure your dental practitioner keeps your feet low and your head above your heart. Another way to deal with this is to schedule your appointment when you are early in your pregnancy.

If you visit the family dentist and find that you have a problem that needs to be addressed, always talk to your OB-GYN before you schedule treatment. While most anesthetics and dental treatments are completely safe during pregnancy, you want to be sure that there are no potential problems. Sometimes it is better to wait until after the baby comes to have intense dental work done.

So in general, there are few problems associated with visiting your family dentist during pregnancy for a checkup or cleaning. Make sure you check with your OB-GYN if you have concerns, but remember that a visit to the dental office rarely puts your baby at risk. In fact, it just might protect your baby from the many problems associated with a premature birth.