Before Pregnancy
- Make sure your teeth and gums are healthy.
- Visit your dentist for a thorough checkup.
- Complete all necessary dental works before getting pregnant.
1st Trimester
- It is best to avoid dental works during the first trimester.
- Tell your dentist that you are pregnant.
- Change in hormones can cause inflammation of the gums or pregnancy gingivitis.
- Do not brush your teeth immediately after vomiting or morning sickness. Instead, rinse your mouth with water and use a fluoride mouth rinse.
- Use a toothbrush with a small head and use a bland toothpaste to prevent vomiting.
- Baby teeth begin to form three months into pregnancy. What you eat will affect your baby’s developing teeth.
2nd Trimester
- Dental procedures are safe during the 4th to 6th month.
- Avoid snacking on sugary foods even though you may be craving them.
- Maintain a balanced diet with plenty of Vitamin C, Vitamin B12 and calcium for healthy teeth.
- Due to hormonal changes, some pregnant women may experience pregnancy gym cysts.
3rd Trimester
- Avoid dental treatments.
- Continue good oral hygiene, brush your teeth twice daily and floss daily.
Nursing
- Soon after delivery, have a dental checkup.
- X-rays, local anesthetics and nitrous oxide are safe while breastfeeding.
- Wipe your baby’s gums after each breast feeding or bottle feeding.
- Use a smear of fluoridated toothpaste as soon as the baby’s first tooth erupts. Look for a toothpaste which says 500ppm (parts per million) of fluoride on the tube.
Caring for your baby’s teeth
- Wipe your baby’s gums with damp cloth or wipes (found in pharmacies) after every breast feeding or bottle feeding.
- When the first tooth erupts, brush your child’s teeth with a smear amount of fluoride toothpaste at least two times a day.
- Early childhood caries are caused by mouth germs and drinks containing sugar like milk (breast milk, formula and cow’s milk) or juices.
- Keep bottles and sippy cups out of the crib.
- Never put your baby to sleep with milk or juice.
- Babies are born with germ-free mouths. Caregivers and parents can spread germs by sharing spoons, food and kissing. Caregivers and parents should maintain good oral hygiene and have their teeth checked for cavities to avoid passing cavities to babies.
