subject: Mothers Expecting Healthy Babies Must Have Healthy Smiles [print this page] Adequate dental attention is very essential to both an expectant mother and her unborn baby. Taking care of your general wellness plus adequate care for your dental health is what it takes to make sure that the teeth of the growing baby in your womb will be healthy. Having regular check ups with your dentist, proper brushing and flossing, avoiding fatty food and sticking to a nutritious and balanced diet are the steps to ensure this.
The teeth of babies already begin to form while still in the womb, from the fifth or sixth week in the womb, their tooth buds already develop while between the third and sixth month, their dental crowns already begin to appear. By the time the mother gives birth, her child?s 20 primary or baby teeth are already developed, only they are within the baby?s jawbone. Even if the tooth crowns are almost fully developed, they will stay hidden until the time that the baby undergoes the teething process.
As the baby in the womb?s teeth develops, it is a must for the mother to have adequate calcium, phosphorous and other vitamins and minerals. Sticking to a balanced diet enables you to have the right does of nutrients which are essential for you and your growing child in your womb. Unlike what many believe in, the calcium needs of the unborn child is not taken from the teeth of his mother. Since your doctor knows your specific nutritional needs, you must follow his advice during your pregnancy.
The saying that every pregnancy would cost a woman a tooth is not true at all. The reasons why some women would encounter tooth decay during pregnancy is because they neglect their oral health practices and maybe eat too many sweets often. Inflamed gums known as gingivitis is a more common problem among pregnant women than instances of tooth decay. Pregnancy gingivitis, as this disease is known, is proven to be caused by hormonal increase. The plaque under the gum line affect the gums and makes it react violently due to this hormonal increase. Even when there are irregularities in hormone activities, pregnant women can avoid gingivitis thru regular check ups and professional dental cleaning.
There is no harm to an expectant mom and her child while she receives plenty of dental care and treatments. If pregnant and you need a dental treatment, ask your dentist to set it within your second trimester of pregnancy. Many women suffer from nausea, anxiety or nervousness during their first months of pregnancy. Women on their last months of pregnancy will find it difficult to sit on dental chairs. These gives meaning on why a pregnant mother must take her dental procedures between the fourth to sixth month of pregnancy only.
X-rays have to be done in order to determine if there are any oral problems especially ones that visual inspection cannot detect. There might be no need anymore for x-rays if you practice good dental health care prior to getting pregnant. When having an x-ray is vital for the woman's health, she must be asked to wear an apron made of lead to protect her and her unborn baby, as well as make sure that her exposure to radiation is brief and that the x-ray beam used is very minimal or narrow. With good nutrition and dental health practices, you can avoid dental problems in the future and gift your child with great dental health.
