Oh Baby - It's Time to Visit the Dentist

New Studies Show Dental Care While Pregnant is Important For Moms and Their Babies to Be.

When scheduling your appointments, shopping and other essentials on your pre-baby ‘to-do’ list, be sure to include regular trips to your dentist, says Dr. Stacie Calian, DDS, MS, MPH, a dentist with offices in Yonkers and Mt. Kisco, New York.

According to studies noted by the American Academy of Periodontology and the Academy of General Dentistry, pregnant women with poor dental health are 7 times more likely to have pre-term and / or low birth weight babies.

“Dental care is always important for not only aesthetic reasons, but for our overall health,” notes Dr. Stacie Calian.  “Now we know mothers-to-be need to be especially careful about their oral health.”

The danger occurs, research suggests, when unchecked bacteria enters the bloodstream through effected gums.  These orally created bacteria can actually trigger, in pregnant women, the production of prostaglandins which are suspected to induce premature labor.  This concern is exacerbated as pregnant women are more susceptible to gum disease when pregnant, as hormone surges negatively affect the way their gums react to plaque, leading to the condition often known as “pregnancy mouth”.

According to the American Academy of General Dentistry, you should visit your dentist when planning to become pregnant, or as soon as you first know you are pregnant, followed by a thorough cleaning in your first trimester.  “I often work with my pregnant patients to establish a visit schedule to monitor the health of their teeth and gums throughout pregnancy to safeguard their health, and that of their baby,” explains Dr. Calian. 

After baby is born, be sure to visit again to bring your oral health and care back to its normal routine, making sure to advise your dentist if you are nursing.  Your dentist can also then give you a little insight on the newest member of your families’ upcoming dental care and information on caring for your baby’s important first teeth.

Submitted by Dr. Stacie Calian. For more information, visit Dr. Stacie Calian’s website – http://www.caliandentistry.com/doctors01.php, or call her at 914.241-8200.