I have been pregnant three times and it never seems to fail that during every pregnancy I had some type of dental issue to deal with. While dealing with morning sickness, the last thing I wanted to do was sit in a dentist chair with someone's hands in my mouth. It was difficult enough just trying to keep food, basic food like crackers, down, and here I was forced to deal with a stranger's hands in my mouth without throwing up. What is a mommy-to-be to do? The first thing I wanted to do was to avoid the dentist at all cost. However, while staying away seemed to be the obvious answer, it didn't make the toothache go away. So I had to hope for the best, that is, hope I do not throw up my morning crackers all over the dentist's hands, and face my demon head on.

The problem with avoiding the dentist during pregnancy, especially if there is an infection involved, is that the infection does not affect the pregnant woman alone. As any mother or mother-to-be knows, every thing a pregnant woman does affects her child...everything! Whether it be the food in-take, cigarette smoking, drug using, alcohol drinking, emotional issues, and even doctor avoiding, nothing is off limits to the baby she is carrying. If there is indeed an infection that goes undetected or purposely avoided, the bacteria could break off into the saliva, and be carried away into the blood stream. Eventually, the mother's blood stream will circulate into the unborn child and negatively impact the child's health.

Therefore, as dreadful as it may be, it is very important to keep your regular check-ups during pregnancies. And if there is an issue other than the usual cleaning involved, it is crucial that the woman sees her dentist right away and addresses the problem as soon as possible.

Nothing is off limits. The dentist may do the typical cleaning, or deal with more crucial issues such as filling cavities, crowns, root canals, etc. Local anesthesia is completely safe. The only thing that must be avoiding is having any X-rays during pregnancies.

During my pregnancies, I have had a tooth ache, loose filling that needed to be crowned, and a chip tooth that became infected. They were all taken care of; and I am happy to report, without throwing up on my dentist. Dentist are understandable if you need to reschedule. So on the morning of your scheduled dental appointment, if you happen to wake up feeling nauseated, go ahead and call to reschedule that appointment. Even though it is less than a 24 hour notice, your dentist will be more concerned with your well-being and that of your unborn child, than charging you a short notice cancellation fee.

Learn more about this author, Carol Capuano.
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