Pregnancy and Your Dental Health

Why Your Teeth Matter When You Are Having a Baby

When you are pregnant, your body changes a lot. Your teeth and gums can change too!

Having a baby means taking care of your mouth is more important than ever. Let’s learn why!

What Happens to Your Mouth When You Are Pregnant

When you are pregnant, your body makes more hormones. These hormones can make your gums get puffy and bleed more easily.

Here are some mouth problems that can happen:

• Red gums that hurt
• Bleeding when you brush
• Bumps on your gums
• Teeth that feel loose
• More cavities

Did you know? About 60-75% of pregnant women get gum problems!

Pregnancy Gingivitis – Red, Puffy Gums

Gingivitis means your gums are sick. Your gums may look red, feel puffy, and bleed when you brush.

This happens to many pregnant women. The good news is you can fix it!

How to help your gums:

• Brush your teeth two times every day
• Use a soft toothbrush
• Floss every day
• See your dentist for a cleaning

A dentist cleaning can make your gums much better!

Morning Sickness and Your Teeth

Do you throw up when you have morning sickness? The acid from your tummy can hurt your teeth.

About 30% of pregnant women get teeth damage from morning sickness.

What to do after you throw up:

1. Don’t brush right away
2. Rinse your mouth with water
3. Mix baking soda with water and rinse
4. Wait 30 minutes, then brush

This helps keep the acid from hurting your teeth.

Pregnancy Tumors – Don’t Worry, They’re Not Cancer

Some pregnant women get bumps on their gums. Doctors call these “pyogenic granulomas” but many people call them “pregnancy tumors.”

These bumps:

• Look red and raw
• Bleed easily
• Usually show up in month 2
• Often go away after your baby is born

If a bump bothers you, your dentist can help remove it.

Tooth Decay – Stopping Cavities

When you are pregnant, you might:

• Eat more sweet foods
• Have a dry mouth
• Feel too tired to brush well

This can lead to more cavities.

To keep your teeth strong:

• Drink lots of water
• Eat healthy snacks like cheese, fruits, and nuts
• Use fluoride toothpaste
• Brush after meals when you can

Safe Dental Care During Pregnancy

Many moms worry if seeing the dentist is safe during pregnancy. Good news – most dental care is completely safe!

What Is Safe:

• Dental check-ups
• Cleanings
• Fillings
• X-rays (with a special cover for your belly)
• Root canals
• Getting numbing medicine

What To Wait On:

• Whitening your teeth
• Cosmetic treatments

The second trimester (months 4-6) is the best time for dental work.

Tips For Brushing and Flossing

Taking care of your teeth at home is super important when you are pregnant.

Best Ways to Brush:

• Use a soft toothbrush
• Brush for two minutes, two times a day
• Use fluoride toothpaste
• Brush in small, gentle circles

Best Ways to Floss:

• Floss once every day
• Go slowly and be gentle
• Curve the floss around each tooth

If brushing makes you feel sick, try using a smaller toothbrush and mild-tasting toothpaste.

Food Choices For Healthy Teeth

What you eat affects your baby’s teeth too! Your baby’s teeth start forming around week 8 of pregnancy.

Good Foods for Teeth:

• Milk, cheese, and yogurt (for calcium)
• Eggs and fish (for protein)
• Fruits and vegetables (for vitamins)
• Nuts and seeds (for minerals)

Foods to Limit:

• Sugary drinks
• Sticky candy
• Acidic foods and drinks

Eating well helps both you and your baby have strong teeth!

Myths About Pregnancy and Teeth

You might hear some scary things about teeth during pregnancy. Let’s learn what’s true and what’s not!

Myth 1: “You lose a tooth for every baby.”

NOT TRUE! Pregnancy doesn’t make you lose teeth if you take good care of them.

Myth 2: “Dental work harms the baby.”

NOT TRUE! Dental care is safe and important during pregnancy.

Myth 3: “It’s normal for gums to bleed when pregnant.”

PARTLY TRUE. While common, bleeding gums need treatment, not ignoring.

Myth 4: “You can’t fix dental problems during pregnancy.”

NOT TRUE! Most dental treatment is safe and can prevent bigger problems.

After Your Baby Comes

After you have your baby, your mouth will start to get back to normal. But you still need to:

• Keep up good brushing and flossing
• Go to your dentist for a check-up
• Tell your dentist if you are breastfeeding (some medicines are safer than others)
• Get a new toothbrush and keep brushing and flossing daily

What you do now helps your new baby too! Babies can get cavity germs from their parents’ mouths.

When to Call Your Dentist Right Away

Sometimes you need to see a dentist fast when pregnant. Call your dentist if you have:

• Pain that won’t go away
• Swelling in your mouth
• A broken tooth
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop
• A knocked-out tooth

Remember: Taking care of dental problems early is always better than waiting!

Questions People Often Ask

Your Dental Action Plan

Here’s what to do for healthy teeth during pregnancy:

1. See your dentist early in your pregnancy
2. Tell your dentist and doctor about any mouth problems
3. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
4. Floss once a day
5. Eat healthy foods
6. Drink water instead of sugary drinks
7. Rinse with water after morning sickness
8. Don’t skip dental check-ups

Taking care of your teeth helps you and your baby stay healthy.

Remember This

Your dental health matters more than ever when you are pregnant. Problems in your mouth can affect your whole body – and maybe even your baby.

The good news is that with good care, your teeth and gums can stay healthy through your whole pregnancy.

Talk to your dentist and doctor about any concerns you have. They want to help you have the healthiest pregnancy possible!