Why good oral care is crucial during pregnancy

New Delhi: Maintaining good oral care is crucial and it's one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. But unfortunately, most people tend to neglect their oral care, which is directly linked to our overall health.

It's even more important for women to take good care of their teeth and gums while pregnant.

This means in order to have a smooth and healthy pregnancy, special attention should be given to your teeth and gums.

Preventive dental check-ups are important throughout one’s life, and, arguably, even more essential during pregnancy.

“Majority of pregnant women have oral health problems, however 43% don't seek dental treatment. All infections in the mother, including tooth decay and gum disease, may pose a risk to the baby’s health as well. However, a national survey recently released by Cigna found that 43% of women don’t go for a dental check-up while expecting even though 76% admit to suffering from oral health problems during pregnancy, such as bleeding gums or toothaches,” Dr Srivats Bharadwaj, Chairman and founder of Vatsalya-Dental.

Preventive dental check-ups are important throughout one’s life, and, arguably, even more essential during pregnancy.

“What’s more is that just as with general health, our oral health needs more attention during certain parts of our lives. For instance, during and after pregnancies, oral care is of utmost importance,” Dr Srivats Bharadwaj added.

While more research is needed, growing evidence suggests that pregnant women who have gum disease are at a higher risk of having a premature, low birth weight baby.