Hormonal changes alter how gums respond to plaque, so pregnancy is a time when oral health needs a little extra attention.
During pregnancy, most of the attention understandably goes to general health, and oral health is easy to let slide. It matters more than it might seem. Hormonal changes alter the way gums respond to plaque, and untreated gum disease during pregnancy has been associated with outcomes such as low birth weight and premature birth.
Dental care can continue throughout pregnancy, and a check-up and clean is safe at any stage. In practice, many people find the middle months the most comfortable for a longer appointment — nausea has often settled, and lying back in the chair is still easy. Later in pregnancy it can be more comfortable to sit more upright, or to lie slightly on your left side with support, and shorter appointments may suit you better.
Tell the practice how many weeks along you are when you book, not just when you arrive. That allows the appointment to be scheduled at a sensible length and lets your dentist plan around anything that needs adjusting.
Necessary treatment does not have to wait. Untreated decay or infection is a risk in itself, and delaying care rarely makes a problem simpler. Elective or purely cosmetic work is usually more sensibly postponed until after the birth, but restorative and preventive care can proceed.
Dental X-rays are taken only when there is a clinical reason for them, and modern equipment uses a small, tightly focused beam. Your dentist will discuss whether an image is needed, what it will show, and what happens if it is deferred, so you can make the decision with the full picture. Always tell your dentist you are pregnant, or think you may be, before any imaging or before any medication is prescribed.
Stomach acid softens enamel temporarily, and brushing while it is soft can wear the surface rather than clean it. After vomiting or reflux:
Some people develop a soft, red lump on the gum between the teeth during pregnancy, often called a pregnancy epulis. It is benign, tends to bleed easily when brushed, and commonly settles after the birth. It is still worth having it looked at, both to confirm what it is and to check whether plaque around the area is contributing. Good cleaning around the site usually helps, and treatment during pregnancy is generally only considered if it is causing real trouble with eating or cleaning.
Book your own check-up once things have settled, particularly if gum problems appeared during pregnancy. Decay-causing bacteria can pass from carer to baby through shared spoons, dummies cleaned in the mouth, or a bitten-off piece of food, so keeping your own mouth healthy protects your child as well. Wipe your baby’s gums with a clean damp cloth, begin brushing as soon as the first tooth appears, and arrange a first dental visit around the time that first tooth arrives or by their first birthday. Our children’s dentistry page explains what that first appointment involves.
Helix Dental is a general and cosmetic dental practice in Mermaid Waters. Our dentists see patients at every stage of pregnancy and will adapt an appointment for comfort. If pain or swelling develops, emergency dental care should not be delayed because you are pregnant.
General information only. This page provides general information about dental treatment and is not a substitute for individual clinical advice. Whether any treatment is suitable for you can only be determined by a dentist after an examination. Results and recovery vary from person to person and are not guaranteed.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Call our Mermaid Waters practice on 07 5572 8969 or email hello@helixdental.com.au to arrange a time that suits you.
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