Dental Treatment During Pregnancy
Between the 13th and 27th weeks of pregnancy is the safest period for treatment. We can perform all kinds of dental treatment procedures between these weeks without any side effects. However, in order to protect the baby, we prefer to treat only her urgent needs during this process. All kinds of dental treatment, including tooth extraction, can be performed during pregnancy, but if the condition of the treatment is not urgent, the treatment can be postponed until after giving birth.
Local anesthesia is used in the dental treatment of pregnancy. It is very unlikely that local anesthetics used for expectant mothers will pass into the body circulation and pass to the baby. Since only emergency treatments are performed in this process, if the mother is not treated, the problematic tooth may cause more harm to the baby. X-rays are not taken unless absolutely necessary. In difficult pregnancies, we can treat the patient with the approval of the gynecologist.
A pregnant woman who has a toothache or a broken tooth should not panic and go to the dentist before the problem progresses. Toothache is often related to tooth decay. In this case, tooth filling, root canal treatment or tooth extraction may be required. As long as the obstetrician who follows the patient approves, dental caries treatment can be done in any period of pregnancy.
Tooth Decay During Pregnancy
There is a common belief that caries increase during pregnancy and this is due to the baby’s calcium withdrawal from the mother. But this is a misconception. The main reason for the increase in dental caries in this period is the sugary diet of expectant mother and neglect of oral care. Stopping brushing teeth due to bleeding in the gums can increase the formation of caries.
Dental Treatment During Breastfeeding
A breastfeeding woman is in a sensitive period, although not as much as a pregnant woman. The biggest issue in this period is whether the drugs will pass into breast milk. X-ray, anesthesia can be applied more easily and procedures such as tooth extraction, root canal treatment, implant application can also be performed. It is necessary for the mother to tell the dentist that she is breastfeeding. Depending on this, the dentist can make arrangements about the drugs he/she should prescribe and the treatments he/she will apply.
Does the anesthetic and the drugs that the mother will use, passes into breast milk and harm the baby?
All the drugs used and the anesthetics applied can pass into breast milk, just like the foods that mother eats and drinks. However, in order to protect the baby, it may be necessary to select appropriate drugs and/or wait for the drug to be eliminated from the body. The doctor’s advice on antibiotics and painkillers should be strictly followed, as some antibiotics can adversely affect the development of the baby. After applying local anesthetics, 2-3 hours should be waited to breastfeed. After anesthesia is applied, there is no need to dispose the first milk.
Does the tooth infection in the mother passes into milk? No, the inflammation does not pass into the milk, you do not need to be afraid about it. However, the presence of a constant focal infection in the mother’s body can adversely affect the mother’s health.