Pregnancy is a magical time in your life, but it’s also one in which you need to take greater responsibility than ever before. As well as eating for two, you’re also brushing for two. As such, you must not overlook the need to give your oral health some extra attention.

In addition to employing general tips, you must also know about the issues that pregnancy can impact. Here are four things you need to consider.

Morning sickness

Morning sickness is a very common symptom of pregnancy. Aside from the unpleasant experience of vomiting, you also have to deal with the additional concern posed by stomach acid, which has the potential to cause tooth erosion.

As well as morning sickness, you may find yourself contending with acid reflux, which has a similar impact on the teeth. In either scenario, you’ll probably think about brushing your teeth right away. However, there is a better solution.

Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water, and gargle it before rinsing your mouth once more. This will neutralize the acid to protect your tooth enamel.

Gum disease and bleeding

Hormonal changes caused by pregnancy will impact the way that your body reacts to plaque and bacteria within your mouth. As such, even small volumes of plaque could lead to swelling and bleeding. In some cases, it can bring the onset of gum disease too.

In addition to the problems it can cause you, studies have shown links between gum disease in pregnancy and problems with premature delivery and underweight babies. Therefore, it’s imperative that you stay on top of the issue for both of your sakes.

When you spot the early signs of gum disease during pregnancy, our team of Nashua NH dentists can provide the deep cleaning services to prevent complications.

X-ray exposure

When visiting your dentist for treatments or oral health checkups during pregnancy, you should always tell the that you are pregnant. This information may change the way they approach the session, particularly in relation to x-rays.

While x-rays won’t cause miscarriage or birth defects, the exposure to radiation can damage the body’s cells and potentially increase the risk of cancer for both of you – even when the dosages are very small. It’s probably best to avoid this where possible.

When a situation genuinely requires an x-ray, you do not need to worry about it. Nonetheless, the precaution of avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure is advised.

Pregnancy tumors

If you notice little raspberry-like growths between your teeth, particularly in your second trimester, you are not the first woman to experience this. They are known as pregnancy tumors, but are not as dangerous as you will fear.

They are not malignant, and will usually disappear on their own accord following the birth of your baby. However, they can be a little painful and cause a lot of discomfort. When they do, your dentist can remove them through professional treatments.

To learn more about this process, as well as everything else you’ll need to know about oral health and pregnancy, contact Rose Dental today.