“I’ve heard women lose a tooth for every child. Is that true?”
How many times have you heard that from moms in your program? Good news! You can reassure them with the truth: Being pregnant does not weaken teeth by taking the calcium from them. That’s an old wives’ tale.
Help the pregnant moms in your program keep teeth healthy and strong with these tips from HRSA Consensus Report on Oral Health Care for Pregnant Women:
- Brush twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss before bedtime.
- If feeling sick and unable to brush, rinse the mouth with water or a mouth rinse with fluoride.
- The stomach acid from morning sickness can affect teeth by softening tooth enamel. Don’t brush after vomiting. Instead, rinse the mouth with either plain water or water with a teaspoon of baking soda in it.
- Dental care, including x-rays, pain medication and local anesthesia are safe during pregnancy.
Feel free to recommend to the moms in your program our short, informative video Healthy Teeth, Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby, by clicking below, or go to the Videos tab.
