We have put together an info sheet on facts regarding pregnancy, newborn and oral health.  This info sheet contains the main points we go over with our patients who are expecting or have recently given birth. We know pregnancy can be a very hectic time for new moms so we have distilled down the most important points to remember in this info sheet so new moms can have one less thing to worry about.

Taking care of your gums and teeth during pregnancy not only benefits the mother but recent research has shown that there is a link between gum disease and preterm birth.  Therefore make sure you keep good oral health by brushing twice per day for 2 minutes each and flossing daily.  Due to the hormonal changes, your gums might swell up and bleed more often, so please keep up with the brushing and flossing or else gum disease might set in.  We are more than happy to see you in our office during pregnancy, it is safe, beneficial, and can help make sure you do not have any dental emergencies during your pregnancy!

After giving birth, taking care of your newborn’s oral health is equally as important.  You might think that your baby might not have teeth yet, but we have found that by starting young, even before first eruption of their teeth can help improve your child’s future oral health.  At birth we recommend you use a soft moist towel and start wiping the inside of their mouth, cleaning their tongue and gum.  This way your baby can be familiar with you cleaning their mouth and when their teeth erupts around 6 months, it will be easier.  When your newborn do get teeth coming in, please brush them twice a day and if the teeth are touching, please start FLOSSING them!  Equally important, if they do feed at night, make sure your baby’s teeth are brushed before they go to bed.  If they do wake up to feed during the night, please do a quick wipe with soft cloth.  This will dramatically reduce the risk of cavities in your newborn!

Here is the link to download the full info sheet (in PDF format).

Pregnancy & Newborn Info Sheet

If you do have more questions, feel free to contact us anytime!