Oral Health Tips for Expecting Women

Expectant mothers often take many steps to protect their health and ensure a healthy pregnancy. Regular prenatal care, a healthy diet and exercise according to your doctor’s recommendations can all help you stay on track. Our dentist in Torrance CA recommends taking steps to preserve your dental health as well.

Dental health is closely linked to overall health and is critically important during pregnancy since many dental problems can increase your risk of suffering complications that include preterm birth and low-birth weight babies.

Pregnant women tend to be more prone to dental health problems thanks to changing hormone levels. Regular dental care can help identify these problems early so that you and our dentist can create a treatment plan to address them. Improving your dental hygiene routine is equally important. You should be brushing at least twice a day and flossing every day to keep plaque and bacteria under control. This reduces your risk of pregnancy gingivitis, periodontal disease and other dental health problems.

Morning sickness can leave your teeth more susceptible to damage and decay. After vomiting, rinse thoroughly with water to neutralize harmful stomach acids. Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after a bout of morning sickness, which can damage your teeth even further.

Finally, take steps to ensure you are getting enough calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and vitamin C. The right nutrients can reduce your risk of dental health problems and increase the strength of your baby’s forming teeth.

Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your next dental checkup.

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