What in dental care should be avoided during pregnancy? Renowned doctor explains
Procedures such as annual exams and preventive dental cleanings are generally recommended and can even help prevent infections associated with preterm birth.
Procedures such as annual exams and preventive dental cleanings are generally recommended and can even help prevent infections associated with preterm birth.
Procedures such as annual exams and preventive dental cleanings are generally recommended and can even help prevent infections associated with preterm birth.
Everyone knows that pregnant women face a flood of hormonal changes during the first few months. Do you know that a few of these issues are also dental? Yes! For instance, Gingivitis, a gum disease caused by plaque buildup, has symptoms such as swollen, tender gums, bad breath, and bleeding while flossing. Pyogenic granuloma (an inflammation inside the mouth), dry mouth, tooth erosion, and tooth decay are common dental issues women face during pregnancy due to hormonal shifts and dietary changes. However, you can't take a dental treatment like you always do when you are pregnant. There are a handful of precautions that one needs to take, and Dr S Jayalakshmi of the Indian Dental Association, Mavelikkara, explains.
Inform your dentist
While procedures like annual exams and preventive dental cleaning are generally recommended and can even help prevent infections associated with preterm birth, it's important to inform the dentist that a patient is pregnant, says Dr Jayalakshmi. "Certain medications and procedures can be harmful to the developing baby, especially during the first three months," she explains. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the second trimester of pregnancy is ideal if dental work is unavoidable.
What can be done?
1) Professional cleaning of the teeth and gums using ultrasonic instruments is recommended, as it helps prevent gum disease from worsening.
2) There is no harm in filling small cavities during pregnancy, and materials such as Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) or composite fillings can be safely used.
3) Ensure a calcium-rich diet throughout pregnancy.
What should be avoided?
According to Dr Jayalakshmi, here are the procedures that should be avoided or performed only in an emergency.
1)Tooth extractions should, as far as possible, be avoided during the first one-and-a-half and the last one-and-a-half months of pregnancy.
2) Root canal treatment may be performed if there is an emergency and no alternative option is available.
3) Completely avoid antibiotics containing tetracycline during pregnancy.