Pregnancy and Your Child’s Teeth

Did you know that while your child’s teeth will not be visible at birth, they still exist beneath the gums? Your child’s primary teeth begin to form at the sixth week of pregnancy and start to mineralize and harden during the third or fourth month.

If you are an expectant mother, now is the time to think about how you can make your child’s teeth as healthy as possible, even if they still have some time to go before making their entrance to the world. Of course, your baby’s overall health and physical development depend on you.

This includes having a healthy diet that is rich in nutrients. If you aren’t getting enough nutrients, your baby won’t either. Your dentist may know a thing or two about oral health, but we know that if a baby’s overall health is good, we can count on their oral health being the same as well.

What Can You Have To Eat?

This is the question that gets asked a lot. What can a pregnant woman eat to ensure that her baby’s overall health and development is at its best? Dental professionals recommend the following, including some of their favorite choices of vitamins and minerals that promote healthy teeth for your child:

• Calcium: When it comes to teeth, this mineral is number one. Not only is this essential for your child’s teeth, but it’s also essential for their entire bone structure as well. If you are unable to eat a regular amount of calcium, your body can take the calcium from your own bones and use it to fulfill your baby’s needs. While it’s beneficial for your baby, it won’t be so much for you. The obvious choices for calcium are your dairy products (I.E.–Milk). Some vegetables such as broccoli can also contain calcium.
• Phosphorus: Another important mineral that promotes hardening of teeth. This can be found in many foods that are often high in protein such as meat, milk, and even some cereals. It’s even the easiest mineral to get for your baby’s overall development.
• Vitamin D: Since you’ll be eating foods rich in calcium and phosphorus, you should eat something that will be rich in Vitamin D. That’s because Vitamin D will retain such minerals like calcium and phosphorus. While Vitamin D can be found in milk, it is naturally available in such fish like salmon.
• Protein: This is essential for building, maintaining, and even replacing body tissue. Foods high in protein will contain amounts of phosphorus. Plus, protein consists of amino acids. Since most amino acids cannot be produced naturally in your body, eating a protein-rich diet will give you more of them. You will typically find protein in meats and milk.

Give Your Baby The Healthy Smile They Deserve

If you have any questions regarding your child’s teeth while you are pregnant, please contact us today. And don’t forget that there will come a time when your child will need to be scheduled for their first ever dental appointment.