Did you know that teeth cleanings and dental x-rays are safe for pregnant women? The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists approve dental treatment for pregnant patients and encourage patients to see a dentist during pregnancy.
The College committee says, “Oral health is an important component of general health and should be maintained during pregnancy and through a woman’s lifetime.... Maintaining good oral health may have a positive effect on cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other disorders.”
The ACOG committee recommends that OB-GYNs
- Advise patients that oral health care improves general health throughout life and may lessen the transmission of cavity-causing bacteria from mother to infant.
- Assure patients that it is safe to have dental treatment during pregnancy. The prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral conditions includes regular cleanings and exams, dental x-rays (with abdominal and thyroid shielding), and the use of local anesthetics.
- Educate women that conditions that require immediate attention -- extractions, root canals, restoring cavities -- may be managed at any time during pregnancy and that postponing treatment may lead to more serious problems.
- Inform pregnant patients that using antacids or rinsing with a baking soda solution (1 teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup of water) can help neutralize the acid associated with vomiting due to morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum, or gastric reflux during late pregnancy.
Here at Jacques Dentistry, we recommend that all of our patients who are expectant mothers continue with their normal dental care routine, and we encourage those pregnant women who haven’t been seeking regular dental treatment to take the opportunity to improve their oral health now. Pregnant women can rest assured that they will receive optimal care from their dentist right here in Greenville, SC -- we want both mother and baby to be at their healthiest!
