The most important thing in maintaining a healthy mouth during pregnancy is making sure you keep up your daily oral care routines including regular dental hygiene visits and check-ups. Prevention is key and minimally invasive dental treatment, such as a regular cleaning, is totally safe for you and your baby during pregnancy.
If your dentist diagnoses something during a check up, then she or he will discuss the ad- vantages and disadvantages of waiting until after birth for treatment versus treating sooner. This will generally be determined by the level of severity of the problem; something deemed low priority, not causing pain, can generally wait until after birth or be treated during the second trimester when the risk of treatment is lowest. Something that is more acute – pain, swelling or signs of infection – may need to be treated earlier. If you are experiencing problems like this you should consult with your dentist as soon as possible – your overall health contributes to your baby’s overall health. If you are pregnant and have questions regarding your oral health it is always best to consult with a dental professional who will be more than willing to answer any questions you may have!