Pregnancy and Dental Health

Did you know that your mouth undergoes quite a few changes when you’re pregnant as well?

The American Dental Association mentions these changes that can occur during pregnancy:

• Inflammation of the gums known as gingivitis. This can cause bleeding of the gums while you brush or floss.
• An increased risk of cavities from eating more carbohydrates, or from morning sickness that can wear away tooth enamel.
• Formation of noncancerous, swollen areas between the teeth, commonly called pregnancy tumors.

What can be done to help prevent these changes? During your pregnancy is very important that you visit the dentist more often. There is an actual condition called pregnancy gingivitis that is quite common in pregnant women. Gingivitis occurs when gum tissue swells, and bacteria can get under the gum line, furthering tissue damage. Food can also get stuck in these pockets, worsening this condition.  We recommend you let our team at Altman Dental know as soon as possible to make sure we are taking care of you appropriately.

It’s also very important to eat healthy foods while you’re pregnant. The baby you’re growing is feeding off what you’re feeding upon. For proper growth and development, the pregnant and nursing mother needs to intake greater amount of vitamins and nutrients than they normally would. Fresh fruits and vegetables are great sources of additional fiber and micro-nutrients. Beans and legumes provide great sources of magnesium, potassium, protein, and folate.  Most pregnant women are told to up their intake of folic acid during pregnancy, however, folate is the bioavailable form that your body needs. Foods that are high in folate are: dark leafy greens, broccoli, beans, asparagus, citrus fruits, avocado, okra, Brussels sprouts, seeds, nuts, cauliflower, beets, celery, carrots, and squash. For more info, check out this link. For great recipes that incorporate lots of veggies and legumes, check out our food blog www.gardenfreshfoodie.com

Here’s our chana masala!

We wish you and the baby only health and wellness!