A guide for keeping up with your oral hygiene from expecting to adulthood- Expecting?

Pregnancy is an exciting time but also can be terrifying, especially if it is your first baby. There are so many things to think about and plan for during this time including choosing a physician, choosing a name, and buying all the necessary items including diapers, outfits and car seats. It can be very overwhelming and that’s why we want to help you during this time with guidelines for you and your baby’s oral health. As you know, your body changes while you are pregnant and one of these changes involves hormone levels. With hormone levels changing you may experience some changes to your gums. You may see your gums start to bleed or swell when you are brushing and flossing which could possibly be the start of pregnancy gingivitis which is an infection of the gums. To help prevent pregnancy gingivitis you need to keep your teeth clean by brushing your teeth for two minutes, two times a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride and flossing once a day. Sometimes it is even recommended to get your teeth cleaned a little more often than usual if you develop pregnancy gingivitis.