Although your oral health plays an important part in your general health in your everyday life, it is especially important during pregnancy when you are more vulnerable to pregnancy gingivitis and subsequent gum disease. This is exacerbated by the increase in hormones making your gums more sensitive to the irritants in plaque that normally cause gingivitis. However, it is still the plaque and not the increase in hormones that is the cause of gingivitis. Gingivitis can make your gums swollen, tender and bleed when you brush and floss.
If you are planning or have recently become pregnant, it is advisable to schedule a checkup and cleaning appointment as soon as possible so you can achieve perfect dental health which will be easier to maintain during your pregnancy. At Boroondara Dental, we try to avoid taking radiographs of pregnant women, so if you are planning to become pregnant, please ensure your checkup is recent so x-rays can be taken prior to pregnancy.
Eating a well-balanced diet will also help to avoid oral health problems during your pregnancy. Your baby’s first teeth develop during pregnancy therefore, you will need to ensure you eat foods high in calcium.