Caring for baby's teeth starts before birth
Care for a child’s teeth and gums can start even before the baby is born. Pregnancy causes many hormonal changes , among these the rise of estrogen and progesterone increases the risk of developing oral health problems, like gingivitis and periodontitis . The presence of maternal periodontal diseases and active infections has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and foetal loss. Therefore, it is important to educate pregnant women about their oral hygiene and the importance of taking care of their newborn’s oral health. J. Courtad and A. Horowitz devised six steps to help us in promoting oral health (ADA Convention- 2016 Denver): 1. Asking right questions such as “Has there been any change in your health history since your last visit?” and “When did you brush your teeth last?” is recommended in order to find out wether your patient is pregnant and to get to know her dental care better. 2. Know your audience: