Pregnancy and Dental Care

I am almost an official dental hygienist and I felt the need to post again about dental care. This time about care during pregnancy. I know what happens to teeth during pregnancy and wanted to post because I am realizing pregnancy had a much greater affect on my teeth than I knew. I recently had 1 of the 4 x-rays I needed taken at the dentist because I was told when I was in school I might have a little cavity started, well in that 1 x-ray I have 3 cavities. I am scared to have the other 3 x-rays taken. Now, I am telling you this because my cavities are due to my pregnancy with Benjamin. When I was pregnant brushing my teeth made me throw up ever time I did it, so I would brush as quickly as I could and didn't do a very good job. On top of that the acid from throwing up is very bad for your teeth as well.
I looked up some information about pregnancy and dental care. Here is what I found.

During pregnancy, blood flow increases by about 30 to 50 percent. Your glowing pink cheeks are explained by the higher circulation, and it’s happening all over your body, from your uterus to your gums. One consequence of increased blood flow to your gums is that bacteria living at the gumline get lots of nutrition, and even if you weren’t prone to gum disease before pregnancy, you might notice swollen or tender gums that bleed when you brush. The elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone in your system also contribute to gum sensitivity. This condition is called pregnancy gingivitis, and about 50 percent of all pregnant women will experience it.
Another effect of gingivitis during pregnancy is that some women develop growths on their gums called pyogenic granulomas, or “pregnancy tumors.” These are noncancerous growths caused by inflammation -- an immune response to an irritant, in this case plaque, They usually go away after childbirth.

Besides brushing twice a day and flossing daily, you should have your teeth professionally cleaned once during your pregnancy. At your visit, be sure to tell the dentist or hygienist that you’re pregnant, or you suspect you might be. If you are diagnosed with gum disease, you might consider asking your dentist or hygienist about a process called scaling and root planing, which scrapes your teeth clean down to the root. In one study, women with gum disease who had their teeth cleaned by this method had a six times lower rate of preterm birth (before 35 weeks, in this case) than women who received only a professional cleaning. Scaling and root planing are a form of deep cleaning that is recommended when plaque pockets are larger than 3 millimeters. After scraping or scaling the plaque at and below the gumline, the base of the tooth is planed, or smoothed, so that it’s harder for plaque to grow again.
The second trimester is a good time to schedule a routine visit to your dental professional, but if you're experiencing problems at any time during your pregnancy, see him or her right away. In general, try to avoid major dental treatments while pregnant -- especially during the first trimester, which is the most crucial time in the baby's development. If you have a history of miscarriage or are otherwise concerned, consider talking to your dentist about postponing your nonemergency dental work -- but don’t wait too long for your routine cleaning. By the third trimester, it can be uncomfortable to lie on your back for more than a few minutes at a time.


Some tips:
* Floss your teeth. ( i am not going to lie I HATE FLOSSING, but I know how good it is for you and I am working on doing it more) This is really going to help during pregnancy.
* If you get sick and throw up- DO NOT brush your teeth after you throw up. Use mouthwash instead. Brushing will just rub the stomach acid all over your teeth.
* You should brush for 2 minutes.