Pre-pregnancy dental tips: Is it safe to go to the dentist when pregnant?

Is it safe to have dental treatment whilst pregnant?

Do you need to tell your dentist if you are thinking of starting a family?

I’d like to share my essential list of pre-pregnancy dental tips with any hopeful Mum’s out there!

Read our pre-pregnancy dental tips to find out more!

1. Have your teeth checked, x-rayed and cleaned. It’s best to have a checkup to make sure everything is healthy in your mouth. Pregnant Mums can also be more likely to have gum problems, so do be sure to have your teeth cleaned twice a year, and prior to becoming pregnant. It’s a good idea to have your X-rays updated too, as we try and avoid taking them while you are pregnant.
2. Continue with good oral hygiene and a healthy diet. Maintaining good hygiene practices will keep your teeth healthy and prevent dental problems. Flossing nightly is also a great habit to get into to prevent decay and gum problems. I’ve found that parents who are proactive with their own dental care transfer these good practices to their children because they prioritise their oral health. Ultimately, your values and attitudes will influence your children, so set them up to have healthy teeth for life!
3. Have any dental treatment completed prior to becoming pregnant. This will reduce your stress and will be much better (and safer for baby). That being said, if you do need any treatment while pregnant, there usually are no problems, but we do try to avoid taking X-rays if possible. Unfortunately, I have seen several pregnant ladies who haven’t had their dental problems attended to prior to becoming pregnant. One patient I remember well had to have urgent treatment whilst pregnant due to dental pain and infections. The regrettable part of this was that all of these dental problems could have been diagnosed and treated without the added stress of being pregnant. Often the Mums are upset and in severe pain, on top of being concerned for their babies. One lady in particular I remember was 39 weeks pregnant and had a severely infected tooth. Because she was so heavily pregnant, she decided to defer treatment till after she gave birth, and the poor Mum had to put up with the pain (she was taking Panadol, but that was the strongest painkiller she could take whilst pregnant). Definitely not an ideal situation for the poor lady.
4. Complete any tooth whitening, facial wrinkle relaxers or filler treatment prior to becoming pregnant. It isn’t safe to have your teeth whitened or have wrinkle relaxers or dermal fillers, so make sure you complete all of your treatment before becoming pregnant.
5. Do continue to attend your regular dental appointments. Some mothers can have issues with morning sickness which can affect their teeth. When you vomit regularly, the acids from your stomach can cause your teeth to erode. We can talk to you about how you can prevent this type of damage if this is a problem for you.

Good luck to all the hopeful Mums and Mums to be out there! Do remember to always inform your dentist (and any other healthcare providers) if you are considering becoming pregnant or are pregnant so they can take the necessary precautions for you and baby!