Pregnancy and oral Health
Plaque
Plaque contains harmful bacteria that sticks to your
teeth and is constantly forming.
If left for longer than 24 hours it hardens into tarter.
If not removed it can cause cavities, gingivitis, and
periodontitis
Plaque: Can only be removed manually
Tarter: can only be removed professionally
Gingivitis
Is a gum disease that is
reversible
Gums become irritated and
swollen due to plaque and
tarter
Sign and symptoms: Gums are
red & swollen, bad breath and
tend to bleed easily while you
brush and floss
Treatment: proper brushing,
flossing, and regular
professional dental cleanings
Periodontitis
Loss of attachment
Not reversible
Can be treated by halting the disease
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Localized swelling of gums occur between 2nd to 8th
month of pregnancy. Gingivitis occur in 60-75% of all
pregnant women.
Hormonal changes and plaque can cause gums to
swell and have a tendency to bleed easily while
brushing and flossing.
A couple of major studies showed a relation between
pregnancy gingivitis and premature birth weight
Treatment: proper brushing and flossing twice a day
with regular dental cleanings
Pregnancy tumor is a large lump that is deep red
and usually appears near the gum line.
Not cancerous!
Can cause difficulty eating, speaking and cause
discomfort.
Usually disappears on their own after birth of
baby
Oral Hygiene care at home: Tooth brushing, flossing, and mouth rinse
Dental Care: Dental visits for professional dental cleanings
Nutrition: Eat fruits, vegetable, drink plenty of water, and avoid sticky food
Dental Treatment during
pregnancy
Tooth Decay
Four things: Tooth, Plaque,
Sugar, and Time.
Sugar and Plaque together
causes an acid that draws
minerals out of the tooth.
Signs AND
symptoms:
Pain
Swelling, pus, bad
breath
Treatment:
X-Ray to diagnose
Restoration- initial
stage
Root canal therapyadvance stage
Extraction- severe
stage
Replacement
Resources for low cost
dental treatment
Dental schools can be a good source of quality,
reduced cost dental treatments
Post graduate and faculty clinics are also available at
most dental schools.
Dental hygiene schools provide low cost preventive
dental care- LIT dental hygiene school , Beaumont, TX
The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a service of
Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA),
provide reduced cost dental care services Toll free at
1-888-Ask-HRSA(1-888-275-4772)
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The Center for Medicare & Medicaid services run
three federally funded programs: Medicare,
Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance
Program(CHIP)
Medicaid is state funded program that provides
medical benefits and some case dental benefits
to eligible individual and families. Visit
www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Informa
tion /By-Topics/Benefits/Dental-Care.html
or Call 1-877-267-2323
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Medicare is a health insurance program for people who
are 65 years and older or people with specific disabilities.
Medicare does not cover most routine dental care or
dentures. 1-800-633-4227
CHIP is a state program for children in families who earn
too much to qualify for Medicaid but cant afford private
insurance. Dental service cover under this program vary
from state to state, visit www. insurekidsnow.gov/state or
call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669)
Local or state health departments may offer free or
reduce cost dental care. In many states you can call 2-1-1
United way may direct you to free or reduce cost dental
services in your community. visit at www.unitedway.org
and type your zip code to find dental services.
Tooth Brushing
Is the mechanical process which removes
plaque from tooth surfaces.
Use soft bristle tooth brush
Morning sickness during pregnancy can
cause erosion and can lead to loss of tooth
structure (enamel)-avoid brushing for few
hours, rinse your mouth with water will
help, consult your dentist for advice
Change tooth brush every 3 months, when
you get sick, or when bristles start to flare
Do not forget to clean tongue as it harbor
bacteria leads to oral disease
Tooth brush should be angled toward the
gum line at a 45degree angle using back
and forth motion.
Flossing
Helps to remove plaque in between the teeth
Nursing Bottle Caries
Plaque + Food = Acid
Acid + Enamel = White Spots =
Cavities
Baby teeth act as guide line for
permanent teeth
Helps child with eating, smiling and
speech
Cleaning Your Childs
Teeth
Use a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Clean all surfaces!
Inner surfaces- these are the surfaces where plaque
accumulates the most
Outer surfaces- when cleaning the inner and outer
surface make sure that the bristles are angled
toward the gum line.
Chewing surfaces- brush gently using a back and
forth motion.
Fluoride
Fluoride protects teeth from tooth
decay.
It can even heal early decay.
Fluoride is in the drinking water of
many towns and cities.
Ask dentist if your water has fluoride in
it. If it does not then ask for other kind
of fluoride such as fluoride varnish and
drops.
By age 2 start using a pea size of
fluoride toothpaste on childs
toothbrush
Sealants
Sealants are another highly effective
way to protect teeth from decay.
Sealants are a plastic coating that is
place on the chewing surfaces of
permanent molars.
Easy and painless procedure.
Sealants cant last for years, but may
need to be periodically reapplied.
Six years old is the best time to start
applying sealants.
Ask your dentist about sealants and if
your child can benefit from them.
Prevention
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/
Prevention continue....
Avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle at
night or nap time (fill it only with water)
Avoid baby bottles or Sippy cups filled with sweet
drinks to carry around between feedings
By first birthday start teaching your child to drink
from a cup
Dont dip babies pacifier in anything sweet like
sugar or honey
An Infant should see a dentist within 6-12 months after the eruption of
first tooth.
Introduce infant to toddler safety tooth brush at earliest age for life long
dental health.
Wipe babies teeth and gums with a soft cloth and clean teeth right
before bed time.
Provide water at night in childs baby bottle instead of milk to prevent
collection of milk against front teeth.
Dental Emergencies
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, bring
child and tooth to the dentist
immediately.
Place the tooth in a container of milk, salt
or the childs saliva. If none of these are
available use water.
If you are unable to get to the dentist
immediately, gently rinse the tooth in
warm water. DO NOT touch the root!
Carefully insert the tooth back In place
and see your dentist within 30 minutes if
possible.
Sometimes a knocked out tooth can be
successfully replaced in position.
A child who plays all sports should always
wear a mouth guard to prevent injury.
Your dentist can customize one for your
child.
