When you’re planning a family, visiting the dentist may not be at the top of our priority list. However, if you’re thinking about having a baby or are recently pregnant, a dental cleaning and check-up is best done sooner rather than later in your pregnancy.

Good oral health is a component of good overall health, both for you and your baby…

And the good news is, dental care is safe and essential during pregnancy.

Below are answers to common questions about dental treatment and pregnancy, as well as oral care tips for pregnant women.

Don’t forget to come see us during this crazy, chaotic time!

Morning Sickness

If you suffer from morning sickness, acidic destruction of your teeth can be a concern. If you are sick, rinse your mouth with water afterwards, and wait 20 to 30 minutes before brushing your teeth to avoid scrubbing the acid on your teeth.

Dental Procedures While Pregnant

When needed, dental work should and can be completed during pregnancy to reduce the chance of infections. This includes, fillings, crowns, root canals, and extractions. The second trimester is the ideal time for treatment, since one you reach the third trimester, it may be difficult to lie on your back for an extended time.

X-Rays and Radiation

Routine x-rays can be postponed until after the birth. However, x-rays are necessary when performing many dental procedures. According to the American College of Radiology, no single diagnostic x-ray has a radiation dose significant enough to cause adverse effects in a developing embryo or fetus. Fetal organ development occurs during the first trimester, thus it is best to wait until after this time to get x-rays unless in a true emergency situation!

Regular Visits to Monitor Pregnancy Gingivitis

Increase in hormones during pregnancy increases blood flow to the gums, which can cause swelling and tenderness. It can also cause “pregnancy gingivitis,” caused by an exaggerated response to plaque on a pregnant woman’s teeth. If ignored, this can lead to periodontitis, and active destructive disease of the gums. The American Dental Association research links premature birth and low birth rate to women with periodontitis. Regular dental visits during pregnancy and a strict hygiene regimen can prevent the disease. Often, we will recommend an extra hygiene visit to monitor the tissues, gums, and teeth while pregnant, and even before the baby is born. (This is because it might be hard to make it to your regular scheduled appointment with a newborn!)

Ouch! You just took a sip of your favorite drink and now experiencing a sharp pain through your teeth or it’s your favorite hot or cold dish that’s setting off these pains. Either way, you may have sensitive teeth.

Several factors could trigger tooth sensitivity pain, including receding gums, teeth whitening, tooth decay, or genetics. However, there are ways to relieve your pain. In this post, we’ll share 5 ways to get rid of tooth sensitivity.

1. Use toothpaste made for sensitive teeth
   • There are plenty of brands, such as Clinproo 5000 or Sensodyne, that are designed to help people with sensitive teeth. Look for the ingredient potassium nitrate, which helps combat tooth sensitivity and stop the pain. Combine your toothpaste with a mouth rinse with stannous fluoride to desensitize your teeth better.
2. Swap out your toothbrush and habits
   • The way you brush and type of toothbrush you can use can aggravate your teeth sensitivity, so it’s crucial you take a hard look at your brushing habits. Be sure you’re using a soft-bristled toothbrush while gently brushing your teeth. Aggressive brushing with hard bristles will contribute to receding gums, exposing your sensitive teeth and wearing away enamel, increasing sensitivity.
3. Avoid acidic foods and drinks
   • The Mayo Clinic reports acidic foods and drinks, such as coffee and citrus fruits, can dissolve your enamel, thus creating teeth sensitivity. Try to avoid those acidic foods altogether, but we understand it’s hard to give up your morning coffee. Instead, try to limit your exposure to these by drinking through a straw. Also, by drinking a glass of milk after acidic foods it will help neutralize the acid.
4. Nightguard
   • Do you grind or clench your teeth at night? If so, this will cause you to wear away your tooth enamel, making your teeth sensitive and sore. At First Impressions Family Dentistry, we can make you a customized night guard. This is molded to your smile, cushioning and protecting your teeth from the nightly grinding and clinching.
5. See your dentist 
   • In the end, Dr. Wells, can help you! Be sure to visit every six months to ensure Dr. Wells can go over any treatment to help with your sensitivity.

The American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA) and The American Dental Association (ADA) have designated March 5th – March 11th of 2017 as Dental Assistant Recognition Week. Here at First Impressions Family Dentistry we have four amazing assistants, we definitely could not do our job without them! These wonderful women work extremely hard to help provide excellent care and experiences to our patients. During this special week we would like to recognize and say thank you to our incredible dental assistants here at our office. Their job is essential for making your experience here a positive one!

We will be celebrating our dedicated, exceptional assistants with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts stating “We DONUT know what we would have done without you!”

Dental assistants; Amy, Viviana, Deneen, Katie

Our dental assistants play a very important role in our office. They help to make your appointments go smoothly as they work with you. By doing this they make you and your family comfortable in the dental chair. Also, they take on an essential role assisting our dentists during procedures. This allows us to give our patients the quality dental care they deserve. Most importantly they provide educational and informative communications to patients.  This helps extend the understanding of what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how our patients did during the procedures. We hope that you will join us in recognizing them as a special service provider in our community.

We appreciate everything they do on a daily basis!

Thank you!