You’ve got the glow of a mother-to-be. Keep it with these tips for better oral health for you and your baby.
Now you’re eating (and brushing, flossing and keeping dental appointments) for two.
- Make an appointment at the outset of your pregnancy for a healthy head start and advice on changes that could lead to dental problems. Hormonal changes can lead to diet changes, for a famous example, and morning sickness acids can threaten tooth enamel.
- Schedule non-emergency dental care for the fourth to sixth months, because a dental chair can be uncomfortable for a swollen body.
- Avoid dental X-rays and tetracycline, which can stain fetal teeth.
- Get a daily dose of calcium-laden foods like dairy products and dark green leafy vegetables, since your baby and your teeth both need them.
- Reduce the threat of tooth decay or gum disease by brushing and flossing about 30 minutes after every meal and snack. This is especially important now that research has suggested a link between mothers with periodontal disease, or infectious gum disease, and low birth weight babies. Other research suggests that women with untreated periodontal disease are more likely to give birth prematurely.
Dr. Angela Burns moved to Austin 10 years ago and instantly fell in love with our beautiful city. Dr. Burns is originally from the Texarkana area. She attended Texas A&M for her undergraduate degree and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center for her degree in dental surgery (DDS). Dr. Burns is committed to providing her patients with gentle, technologically advanced dental treatment. She attends an average of 60 hours of continuing education every year. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Texas Dental Association, and the Capital Area Dental Society. Dr. Burns and her husband, Gary, have an 11-year-old daughter, Sydney, who is a proud 6th grader at Hill Country Middle School. She is also very involved in the Eanes PTO, her church, and loves raising her family in the Westlake community. “Growing up, I was drawn to mediating and helping others feel more included and less anxious. I was a camp counselor, student government officer and being the oldest of five, I was the family mediator. I found that I had a calling to help alleviate stressful situations for others and realized that being a good listener was something that was key to this. These skills really helped guide me into becoming a dentist that has based my practice on relationships, empathy and a sense of comfort. I knew that I wanted to provide an atmosphere that felt like home when others walked in. Our practice is small, personal and state of the art and we hope you feel like you’re hanging out with friends when you are here!” When she is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Burns enjoys traveling, hiking the greenbelt, enjoying Austin’s music scene, and eating Amy’s Ice Cream.
