MATERNITY DENTISTRY
Highly acidic and sugary foods should be avoided. Moreover, in addition to daily routines such as brushing thoroughly twice a day, special attention should be paid to cleaning the gums and tongue with appropriate fluoride-containing tools (toothpastes and brushes).
Your baby's teeth will not be visible at birth but, believe it or not, they are already there under the gums. Your baby's primary teeth begin to form around the 6th week of the pregnancy, and then start to mineralize - that is the bone-like inner layer of teeth called dentin is formed, followed by the enamel layer - in the 3rd or 4th month of pregnancy. This is why it is important to look after your baby's healthy teeth during pregnancy. A lot depends on how well you take care of yourself during this period. For the proper development of teeth, it is needed to consume certain nutrients. Similarly, you need to watch your intake of substances that can damage the teeth in the womb, such as antibiotics and other pain and anti-inflammatory drugs, pills, alcohol and smoking.
Eat Clean
Certain nutrients are particularly important in prenatal tooth development.
CALCIUM: this mineral is the main component of teeth. If your diet doesn't provide enough calcium to support fetal development, your body will take this mineral from your bones (but not your teeth) and use it to meet the needs of your developing baby. Good for your baby but not so good for you. The best sources of dietary calcium are dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt. It is also found in broccoli and kale.
PHOSPHORUS: another mineral, responsible for tooth hardness. Found in all cells of the body and in many foods - especially high protein sources such as meat and milk but also in cereals.
VITAMIN D: helps the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus. Very few foods contain it naturally - oily fish such as salmon and tuna are exceptions; that's why it's added to milk and to some other drinks and foods (check the labels to find out which ones). It's also produced naturally in the body when the skin is exposed directly to sunlight. Concerns about the negative effects of sun exposure can prevent you from getting all the vitamin D your body needs, so it may be worth taking as a supplement.
PROTEIN: Protein is the most abundant substance in the body besides water. It is responsible for building, maintaining and replenishing the body's tissues. Interestingly, a single protein causes calcium phosphate crystals to form tooth enamel, not bone. All proteins are made up of amino acids but some amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from food sources. Meat and dairy products are the most protein-rich sources. On a vegetarian diet, you need to take a supplement to get all the protein your body needs but in this case you need to pay more attention to the higher amounts because your body does not use it in the same way as when you eat animal products.
If you feel that your diet during pregnancy is insufficient in certain nutrients, it is best to seek specialist advice on what supplements you may need. Although it is unlikely that you can get too many nutrients from food, you may be overdoing it by consuming certain vitamins and minerals in tablet form (such as vitamin D and calcium).
ARE DENTAL TREATMENTS SAFE DURING PREGNANCY?
If you already know you are pregnant (or suspect you are pregnant), please share the news with all the health professionals who care for you. This will help avoid medicines, tests and procedures that could endanger your health of the health of your fetus.
Dental procedures may be necessary for everyone, depending on the situation. We take a look at when and for which procedures a pregnant woman should visit her dentist.
General check-ups and tartar removal
Regular check-ups and cleanings are not only safe, they are also highly recommended by doctors and dentists. This allows the dentist to make sure that there are no such problems in the mother's mouth that could lead to harmful diseases or infections later on. Regular dental check-ups or cleanings will not harm the baby or the mother in any way.
Dental fillings and tooth replacements
Dental fillings, inlays and crowns may be needed at any time. However, it is safest to have this treatment in the second trimester, as the first and third trimesters are the most vulnerable for both baby and mother. Caries problems are treated with a filling or a crown after grinding and cleaning to prevent infections that could harm the mother or baby.
It is safer to wait with procedures that are not absolutely necessary. For example:
Aesthetic treatments and orthodontics
For any dental procedure that requires aesthetic surgery or cosmetic surgery, it is usually advised that the mother should wait. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the health of mother and the baby. These may include dental veneers or various teeth whitening procedures. It is also not advisable to start orthodontic treatment during pregnancy, as the aforementioned hormones, frequent reflux and vitamin deficiencies can cause gingivitis and loosening of the fibres that hold teeth together, which may lead to irreversible damage and bone resorption. If you are already undergoing treatment, be sure to consult your dentist, who can pause or, under strict supervision, slow down the treatment process until the birth of your child, so that the risk of damage is eliminated.
X-rays during pregnancy
Traditional X-rays of pregnant women are prohibited because of their harmful effects on the fetus!
Our dentists only take conventional X-rays of our pregnant patients in justified and urgent cases. Only the most modern X-ray machines are able to take a picture of an area with minimal radiation exposure, using the appropriate protection (lead sheath). This offers you and your baby the maximum protection under the circumstances. With us, you can feel safe and secure with these modern X-ray machines, should the need arise.
If you have any questions about what other dental procedures can be carried out during pregnancy, please do not hesitate to contact us!
