7 Questions About Dental Care and Treatment During Pregnancy

Why Is Dental Care Important When You Are Pregnant?

Certain medications and hormonal changes may increase the chances of periodontal disease and dry mouth. We would like to advice patients to brush and floss twice daily at the time of pregnancy. It will help to prevent cavities after eating sweets and lessen the risk associated with gum erosion. Besides, vomiting related to severe morning sickness may lead to acid erosion of the teeth and occasionally pregnancy hormones can be the reason for benign growths in your mouth that are not dangerous but annoying.
In addition to this, a baby's teeth begin to develop during third to sixth month of pregnancy. It is very important that pregnant women should evaluate their diet chart to support healthy teeth of their unborn babies. Also, pregnant patients might have a hard time in brushing due to strong gag reflex. They may try with a small toothbrush or use different flavors of toothpaste to make brushing easy and convenient.

Can I Get My Teeth Cleaned in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy?

The treatment during every trimester is safe however, the second trimester is the safest one for getting proper as well as emergency dental treatment in London. Though the third trimester is safe, patient might have a hard time in laying back for an extended time period.

There isn’t any medical requirement to postpone common dental treatments after pregnancy. According to experts, there is some connection between periodontal disease and poor pregnancy results, such as preeclampsia and preterm birth. Some dental care providers encourage women to wait until the first trimester to lessen the chances of miscarriage

What Kind of Anesthetic Is Safe if I Require Oral Surgery or a Procedure?

Some local anesthetics such as bupivacaine, mepivacaine and lidocaine are safe at the time of pregnancy. If your dental provider thinks some treatment is needed, you may discuss it with your gynae before performing it.

Are Dental X-rays Considered to Be Safe During Pregnancy?

Modern digital radiography has made radiation issues almost insignificant. X-rays are done for diagnosing any dental disease at the time of pregnancy that has little risk to the developing fetus. This happens when infections and pain develop suddenly though you do not have them. It is important to inform your emergency dentist in Croydon that you are pregnant before doing X-rays so that the staff provide a special device to protect your abdomen and pelvis.

Which Antibiotics Can I Take to Treat or Prevent a Tooth Infection?

Amoxicillin and penicillin are the safe choice during pregnancy, just like cephalexin and cephalosporins. You should avoid tetracycline as it may be the reason for tooth stains in the fetus.

What Should I Take for Pain Control After the Dental Procedure?

Acetaminophen along with narcotic drug, such as hydrocodone or codeine, is commonly prescribed and safe at the time of pregnancy. We would like to encourage patients to take short course of drugs for lessening the risk of opioid dependency. Patients need to be counseled for transition to non-narcotic pain relievers like plain acetaminophen soon. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, are usually not recommended while you are pregnant.

What About Dental Care After Giving Birth to Your Baby?

It is important to take care of your own and your baby’s dental care after giving birth. Make sure you brush teeth regularly and buy an infant toothbrush and toothpaste without fluoride to keep your baby’s budding teeth and gums healthy. We would also advise new parents not to put babies to bed with bottles as this may cause tooth decay.
It is advised to fix the first dental appointment of your baby at six months or as their first tooth comes in. The dentist checks for tongue-tie and other dental problems that may delay their speech and other functions. Also, seeing a dentist helps your baby to become used to the visits early and hence, potentially lessen the dental phobia.



Good dental health is always the major key to overall wellness and pregnancy is the right time to develop such healthy habits. Nowadays, common search strings like 24 hour emergency dentist near me can help you get in touch with the right dentist for your need.  Thus, if you are really concerned about your upcoming trip to the dentist during pregnancy, call your gynecologist for further recommendations and clarification.