Can You Get Braces While Pregnant?

Being pregnant is not easy. Ask a new mom, and she will give you the details. A woman is advised against doing so many things while expecting that she may think twice before doing simple and necessary tasks and read enough and more on the subject concerned before going ahead with it. Now, if you’re pregnant and thinking about getting braces, you’ll no doubt want to know if that’s safe. It’s never too late to wish for that perfect smile or to get those misaligned teeth fixed. But when pregnant, you will obviously want to know if you should go for dental appointments to get braces during pregnancy!

Can You Wear Braces While Pregnant?

If you’re planning to get braces during pregnancy, then this answer will come as a relief. Yes, you can wear braces while pregnant. It won’t affect your health or your baby’s health, for that matter. That said, you must remember that you will need to follow certain precautionary measures and be informed about dental treatments to keep yourself and your child safe.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Using Braces While Pregnant

If you are wondering, “Can pregnant women get braces?” Well, you can have teeth braces during pregnancy. However, if you are considering getting braces during pregnancy, we recommend that you keep in mind the following aspects:

• Tell your doctor about your pregnancy so that your doctor uses and prescribes safer drugs to you.
• Some medicines or drugs may have an adverse impact on your pregnancy and tooth movement.
• The changing pregnancy hormones may impact tooth movement.
• Periodontitis and gingivitis are some of the gum issues that may occur during pregnancy.
• Visit your dentist regularly to keep your gum and teeth health in better condition.

Can Braces Affect Your Hormonal Health During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy may make several changes in your hormones. Also, these changing hormones may lead to various dental problems during pregnancy. Therefore, you need to take care of your oral health in order to stay away from any kind of dental issues while pregnant. If you are wearing braces during pregnancy, it may increase your chances of having gingivitis or periodontal diseases, which may occur due to an accumulation of plaque on the braces. Your hormonal health may be related to your gum health, which means if you have gum issues such as gingivitis, it may affect your hormonal levels.

Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy When Wearing Braces

If you wear braces during pregnancy, then avoid eating the following foods:

• Ice
• Nuts
• Foods such as cookies or candies that may be hard to chew
• Popcorns
• Hard meat
• Crunchy chips

What Inconvenience Is Caused by Using Braces When Pregnant?

Anyone who plans to undergo an orthodontic treatment needs to be extra careful regarding their dental health. If you undergo any orthodontic treatment, such as getting braces during pregnancy, then you may need to be careful. This is because it may become difficult to clean your teeth with braces, which may make you prone to various gum issues such as gingivitis. Therefore, in order to avoid any gum or tooth ailments caused by braces, you must pay a regular visit to your doctor in order to avoid any dental complications.

Which Types of Dental Braces Are More Convenient for Pregnant Women?

There are options available in dental braces to suit the requirements of various patients. Following are some of the options that your doctor may recommend:

1. Retainers

This option may be recommended when you may be requiring minor tooth alignment. This orthodontic treatment option may be apt for dealing with smaller dental issues.

2. Traditional Braces

This method requires the use of wires and brackets, which may be used to apply pressure on the teeth to reach their proper place.

3. Invisalign

This method makes use of clear plastic aligners, which are used to apply pressure on the teeth for proper alignment. These plastic aligners are virtually invisible and can be removed during brushing and eating. This may prove to be an ideal option for a pregnant option as it may pose a lesser threat to her gum health.

Steps to Take Care of Orthodontic Braces While Pregnant

In case you have orthodontic braces during pregnancy, then it is very important that you take proper care of these braces to avoid any dental problems. Following are some steps that you may follow to take care of your braces:

1. Rinse Your Mouth Properly

Food particles that may stay inside your mouth may lead to bacterial growth, which may cause various dental issues. It is very important that you get rid of these food particles, and for that, you may rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating anything.

2. The Choice of Toothpaste

You may ask your doctor to prescribe toothpaste that you may use if you have braces on your teeth.

3. Floss Well

Just as brushing is important to maintain good oral health, flossing is important, too. Though it may get a bit tedious after you get braces, it may be worth the effort as it may keep any kind of teeth or gum problems at bay during pregnancy.

4. Visit Your Dentist Regularly

It is suggested that you pay a regular visit to your dentist if you have braces during pregnancy. This is because it may not only help you monitor your dental health but it may also help your doctor establish any problems that may be arising.

FAQs

1. Are dental braces safe for the baby in the womb?

Having braces while pregnant does not have any negative effect on the baby. Hence, dental braces are safe for the unborn baby. However, the X-ray requirement, which is a part of the teeth aligning process, are risky for pregnant women. If you have had your Z-rays taken before pregnancy, it is fine. We suggest consulting your dentist for the best advice.

2. Can braces worsen morening sickness?

Are you thinking of having braces in the first trimester? Well, there is no evidence suggesting that braces could worsen morning sickness.

3. What is the ideal time to get braces while pregnant?

The second trimester of pregnancy is an ideal time to get braces when pregnant.

Getting braces may help you get that perfect smile that you may have always wished for. Plus, the correlation between braces and pregnancy is nothing to be worried about. However, it will be a good idea to consult your doctor and learn about the procedure before you go in.

Also Read: 

Toothache in Pregnancy
Using Mouthwash while Pregnant
Bleaching Teeth during Pregnancy
Is Taking Fluoride Safe when Pregnant?
How Safe is Root Canal during Pregnancy?
Tooth Extractions during Preganancy- Is It Safe?

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