Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Ash Kler, DDS ·
Somewhere between old wives' tales and abundance of caution, many pregnant patients quietly skip the dentist for nine months. The evidence says that is exactly backwards: pregnancy is a time to see us more attentively, not less.
Pregnancy hormones amplify the gum response to plaque, and "pregnancy gingivitis", tender, bleeding gums, affects the majority of expectant mothers to some degree. Some develop pregnancy granulomas, harmless but bleeding-prone gum growths. Meanwhile, morning sickness bathes teeth in acid, and grazing to manage nausea feeds decay. None of this is destiny; all of it is manageable with cleanings and coaching.
Cleanings and check-ups: safe and recommended throughout pregnancy. Local anesthetic: safe; effective freezing is far better for you and baby than enduring pain and stress. Fillings and necessary treatment: safe, with the second trimester the comfort sweet spot, early pregnancy brings nausea, and late pregnancy makes reclining awkward. Dental X-rays: with modern digital sensors and shielding, the exposure is extremely small, and we take only what diagnosis truly requires, deferring the routine ones. Treating infection: essential, not optional. A dental abscess is a genuine risk to a pregnancy; the treatment is not.
Purely elective cosmetic work, whitening, veneers for veneer's sake, waits comfortably until after delivery. Not because of proven harm, but because "unnecessary" and "pregnant" pair naturally with "later."
After morning sickness, rinse with water or a teaspoon of baking soda in water, and wait 30 minutes before brushing; brushing acid-softened enamel wears it. And tell us you are pregnant at booking, trimester included, so we can tailor everything from positioning to prescriptions.
See us at least once during pregnancy, more if gums complain. Your mouth's health travels with your overall health, never more so than now.
Expecting? Book a pregnancy-friendly check-up: (250) 372-2326.
Have questions about your own smile? Call (250) 372-2326 or request an appointment.