[Posted on July 10th, 2013 by Cashion Dental]
Scheduling an appointment with a dentist in College Station is one of the first things a woman should do once she finds out she’s pregnant or even when she’s thinking about a pregnancy. An expectant mother wants to stay as healthy as possible and often has many questions about which medical and dental treatments are safe for her and her unborn baby.Why See a DentistA rise in hormones while a woman is pregnant can result in trapped food that irritates the gums and eventually causes swelling and bleeding. Regular preventive exams and cleanings by a dentist in College Station are important to steer clear of oral infections like gum disease. According to the North Dakota Department of Health, the germ that sets the infection in motion can move through the bloodstream and into the womb, resulting in early labor and preterm birth.While many pregnant women prefer to postpone all dental work that isn’t absolutely necessary until after delivery, restorative work like filling cavities and installing crowns is often helpful when it reduces the risk of infection, the American Pregnancy Association reports.Antibiotics commonly used to treat or prevent dental infections include penicillin, amoxicillin and clindamycin. All of these medications are considered safe during pregnancy.The ideal time to perform dental work is during the second trimester. Treatment while positioned on your back for an extended session is uncomfortable for many women during the third trimester. Pregnant women should postpone elective treatments like teeth whitening until after delivery.Sometimes dental emergencies requiring services like an extraction or a root canal occur. Dentists in College Station will advise their pregnant patients on the safest course of treatment for them and for their unborn babies, including evaluating any potential medications. A woman who is pregnant should be sure to let the dentist know about the pregnancy as soon as possible and even when planning one. She should also bring a list of any medications, including prenatal vitamins, to her appointment.Proactive Patient Dental CareBeyond regular visits to a dentist in College Station, a pregnant woman can take a number of helpful steps on her own to help make her dental experience a positive one. Among them are these tips:
- Help keep circulation healthy by leavings legs uncrossed in the dentist’s chair.
- Bring a pillow to an appointment for comfort.
- Use headphones with music that’s relaxing during treatment.
- Use a toothpaste with fluoride and ask about the need for a fluoride treatment.
- Eat a balanced diet and skip sugary snacks to help avoid tooth decay.
- Practice your best oral hygiene by brushing at least twice a day and flossing once or more often.
Maintaining good dental health is an important part of prenatal care. Visiting a dentist in College Station is a priority when you're expecting a baby or planning to get pregnant.
