Motherhood is an exciting and enriching time – one that is sure to bring several smiles! However, who has time to worry about pearly whites between 3 a.m. feedings and diapers? Turns out, practicing good oral health gives you more than just a pretty smile – it could give you a healthy baby.

Pregnancy

• Studies indicate that pregnant women with severe periodontal disease may be at increased risk for pre-term delivery, which in turn increases the risk of having a low birth weight baby.

• Due to hormones, gingivitis or gum disease can be common in mothers during the second to eighth months of pregnancy. Your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings during this time to help you avoid problems.

• Your baby’s teeth begin to grow between the third and sixth months of pregnancy. To nourish this development, it is important to eat a well-balanced diet that is especially rich in calcium, protein, phosphorous, and vitamins A, C and D.

• Sometimes, overgrowths of gum tissue called “pregnancy tumors” can appear on gums during the 2nd trimester. The red, raw-looking, mulberry-like growths can be found between teeth and are caused by plaque. The “tumors” often are surgically removed after the baby is born. If you experience pregnancy tumors, see your dentist.

Your Dental Routine

• Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.

• Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. Consider investing in an electric toothbrush.

• Clean between teeth daily with floss or use an interdental cleaner.

• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Newborns and Young Children

• As soon as a baby’s first teeth appear – usually by age 6 months or so – a child is susceptible to decay. Be sure your child visits the dentist by age one.

• Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, or Early Childhood Caries (cavities), develop when an infant nurses continuously from a bottle of milk, formula, sugar water or fruit juice during naps or at night. As the child sleeps, the liquids pool around the teeth, resulting in serious decay over a short period. To prevent tooth decay, encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. In addition, children should not fall asleep with a bottle, and drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided.

• Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with gauze and water. Unless advised by your child’s pediatric dentist, do not use
fluoridated toothpaste until age 2 to 3.

• Flossing is very important for good oral care and should be done at least once a day. Parents should start flossing their child’s teeth when the sides of two teeth touch.

• From 6 months to 3 years of age, your child may have sore gums when teeth begin to come in. Many children like a clean teething ring, cool spoon or cold wet washcloth to ease the pain.

• Thumb sucking is normal for infants, but most children stop by age two. Prolonged thumb sucking can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. Your pediatric dentist can suggest ways to address a prolonged thumb sucking habit if it occurs.