This is a sponsored post written in partnership with One2One Network and Crest Pro-Health. All opinions are 100% my own.
When my husband and I were trying to get pregnant with SweetPea, every online pregnancy/baby site told me how I should keep up with my regular dental visits or start going. I never even considered that this was an issue! But there are possible dental health problems during that can be elevated during pregnancy, such as:
- Tooth decay. Increased acidity in the mouth increases the risk of tooth decay. Morning sickness during pregnancy can aggravate tooth decay by exposing the teeth to more gastric acid. Please note: If you have morning sickness, rinse your mouth with a solution of baking soda and water after vomiting to neutralize the acid before brushing. Just mix one teaspoon baking soda in one cup water.
- Loose teeth. Even in the absence of gum disease, increased levels of progesterone and estrogen can affect the ligaments and bones that support the teeth, causing teeth to loosen during pregnancy.
- Gum disease. The hormonal changes of pregnancy can lead to gingivitis. Left untreated, severe gum disease may be associated with preterm birth and low birth weight!
So not only is important to take care of your mouth during pregnancy, but your mouth health can effect the rest your health overall.
So what can you do to keep your teeth and gums healthy during pregnancy? Stick to the basics. Use a soft bristled toothbrush. Floss regularly. Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash.
Consider rinsing with Crest Pro-Health’s newest mouthwash innovation, Crest Pro-Health Tartar Protection Rinse. It's the only mouth rinse that delivers both anti-cavity and anti-tartar benefits in one.
Crest Pro-Health Tartar Protection Rinse features fluoride to prevent cavities while the pyrophosphate helps to reduce tartar formation. Tartar is a hardened plaque substance that cannot be brushed away.
Crest Pro-Health Tartar Protection Rinse also freshens breath, fights unwanted surface stains and strengthens weakened enamel.
Crest Pro-Health Tartar Protection Rinse features fluoride to prevent cavities while the pyrophosphate helps to reduce tartar formation. Tartar is a hardened plaque substance that cannot be brushed away.
Crest Pro-Health Tartar Protection Rinse also freshens breath, fights unwanted surface stains and strengthens weakened enamel.
Dr. Travis Stork, Emmy® nominated TV host of The Doctors and board-certified emergency medicine physician, has partnered with Crest and Oral-B Pro-Health to help others understand that a healthy mouth is an important part of a healthy body.
Tips & Tools from Dr. Travis Stork and Crest Pro-Health: Update Your Health and Oral Health this Summer and All Year Long
Enjoy Being Active: Finding an activity you enjoy is key to incorporating regular physical fitness into your life. Being active shouldn’t feel like work so choose something you enjoy!
Clean up your oral care: Investing in oral care products that will help protect your mouth against tartar build-up is important and Crest Pro-Health Tartar Protection Rinse provides protection against tartar build-up and cavities.
Healthy Snacks: It’s always a good idea to carry healthy snacks with you. My go to healthy snack is nuts. Nuts are packed with heart-healthy fats and protein and are an easy option when you're traveling. If you are allergic to nuts, there are other great snack options like Greek yogurt with berries, hard boiled eggs or veggies dipped in hummus.
Ask Questions: Don’t be afraid to be proactive and check with your health care team about steps you can take to help be healthier in 2014. Your health care provider can recommend lifestyle changes to help you address any areas of concern.
Small Steps Can Lead to Big Changes: Small changes can make a big impact on your health. For example, making a healthy swap like fruit-infused seltzer water in place of soda or taking a 30-minute walk every day will help improve your health, one step at a time.
The Time Is Now: Chronic illness starts its progression in your younger years. Heart disease can develop before we even realize it. That’s why it is important to start making healthy choices now – like eating whole grains in place of refined carbohydrates – when you’re young. The health decisions you make in your 20’s and 30’s impacts your heath in your 40s and well beyond.
Crest Pro-Health Tartar Protection Rinse is available in drugstores, mass retailers nationwide and on crestprohealth.com! Like Crest on Facebook or follow them on Twitter and Instagram (#CrestProHealth) to receive updates from the brand and learn more about dental care.
What do you do to make sure you stay healthy by keeping a healthy mouth?
interesting about the baking soda. never would have thought about that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips! They'll come in handy!
ReplyDeleteI have encouraged both my daughters, who are pregnant, to make an appointment with their dentists and get a clean and exam
ReplyDeleteI'm pregnant, and have noticed this. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy first baby sucked the life out of my teeth last time around! I have 3 crowns because of her! I am hoping next time the baby finds another spot to pull from!
ReplyDeleteI didnt know I could go to the dentist while pregnant, I just assumed I had to wait.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to take care of your teeth at all times.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to make sure to take care of your teeth when pregnant. I made sure to get my teeth fixed and cleaned when I was pregnant.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing the impact your dental health plays in your overall health. Tooth infections can lead to serious illnesses and you can even end up with blood poisoning due to some dental issues. I hadn't thought of it being something to watch for especially with pregnancy but it makes sense. You need to take extra special care and stay safe. Happy brushing!
ReplyDeleteI'm so crazy obsessive about dental hygiene. Thanks for the morning sickness tip!
ReplyDeleteI have definitely had my share of dental problems - to where I have enough information to right a book! All of your points are excellent! They can save you a bunch of unnecessary pain!! Dentist can’t use some of the pain meds when you’re pregnant. If you want more babies then taking care of your teeth are a must! The treatments I had for my cancer treatment didn’t help either!! Babies are leaches & they take what they need! I am a milk drinker too. I shared on Pinterest. Thank you for sharing this important information!!
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