Pregnant? Go to the Dentist
It's a surprising fact (to me) that pregnant women don't go to the dentist. Probably because we get tired of going to the doctor every month and then every week in our last trimester. But it's important, and here's why. Regular trips to the dentist can prevent gum disease and inflammation, which up to 70% of women experience during pregnancy. So big deal, you say? Actually it is. Gum disease leads to infection and infection can spread from your gums to the rest of your body. According to Catherine Saint Louis, not going to a dentist when suffering active tooth decay can pass bacteria from a woman's saliva to her fetus, endangering the baby's oral health as well as risking other more serious forms of infection. Fear is behind a lot of this. Not from pregnant women. But dentists. “A lot of dentists still fear treating pregnant women, and think, ‘What happens if I have to do an X-ray ?’ or ‘What happens if I give antibiotics or local anesthesia ?’” Dr...