Being a mother is a beautiful journey, but it often comes with a lot of decisions and problems to solve. One problem that a lot of breastfeeding moms have is figuring out how to fit in dental work and other mouth health needs while still nursing their babies. This blog post will talk about the things nursing moms who need dental work should think about, the safety steps they should take, and the advice of experts.
How to Balance Breastfeeding and Good Oral Health
Not only is breastfeeding good for your child’s health, it’s also good for the mother in many ways. It brings people together, gives them the nutrients they need, and may even help them lose weight after giving birth. But taking care of your mouth health is just as important if you want to keep tooth problems from getting worse. Here are some things to think about in order to balance the two priorities:
- Timing is everything: If you can, try to plan non-emergency dental work while you’re pregnant or while you’re trying to get pregnant. This makes it less likely that you will need dental work while nursing.
- Talk to your doctor: It’s important to be honest with your dentist. Make sure they know that you are nursing, and talk to them about any worries you may have.
- Plan for Short Treatments: If you need dental work done while nursing, choose shorter treatments that are less invasive and don’t need as much anesthesia. This cuts down on the time between the surgery and starting to nurse.
- Pump and store milk: Before going to the dentist, pump and store enough breast milk to last through the time you might not be able to breastfeed because of pain or medicine.
- Choosing the Right Medicines: Talk to your dentist and doctor to find medicines that are safe for nursing.
Dental procedures that are common and how they affect breastfeeding
Knowing what might happen if you get dental work done while you’re nursing can help you make smart decisions. Here are some usual processes and what they mean:
- Clean teeth: Regular checkups and cleanings at the dentist are usually safe for nursing women. These meetings don’t need to be taken away from care.
- In most cases, fillings and extractions can be done while nursing, as long as local anesthesia is used. Most of the time, very little medicine gets into breast milk.
- Root canals: Most of the time, root canals are safe because the medicines used don’t get into breast milk very much.
- Removal of a Wisdom Tooth: Getting rid of a wisdom tooth can be more complicated, so it’s best to get advice from your doctor and other medical professionals. You might have to pump milk and store it for a short time.
Take care of safety
To make sure you and your baby are safe while you’re nursing and getting dental work done, take these steps:
- Let your dentist know: Make sure your doctor knows that you’re mom. They can make the necessary changes to your treatment plan.
- Ask About Medicines: Talk to your doctor and healthcare provider about the different medicines and anesthesia that are available. Make sure they are safe for nursing.
- Minimize Exposure: Ask your dentist to use the smallest amount of medicine or anesthesia that will still work, and try to make the process as short as possible.
- Pump and Store: Get ready ahead of time by pumping and saving milk. This will let you keep nursing while you’re healing
In conclusion
Both breastfeeding and good mouth health are important for the health of mothers and babies. Luckily, you can keep both of your goals if you plan ahead and talk to your healthcare providers. This way, you can make sure that your dental work doesn’t get in the way of your nursing journey. In the end, your doctor and other health care providers will help you make the best decisions for your situation. This will make sure that you and your baby can have a healthy and happy breastfeeding experience.