12/01/2025
🤰During pregnancy, the habits you build shape baby’s cavity risk, feeding, and even their early airway development.
✅Here’s what you can start doing now:
1️⃣ Keep your gums healthy
Pregnancy hormones can inflame gums, increasing cavity-causing bacteria.
Fewer bacteria in your mouth = fewer passed to baby later.
2️⃣ Use xylitol gum or mints during pregnancy
Xylitol reduces Streptococcus mutans — the main cavity bacteria moms pass to babies.
Most studies use 5–6 grams of xylitol per day, spaced out (for example: 1 piece of gum, 4 times/day).
This helps lower bacterial load before baby arrives.
3️⃣ Avoid saliva sharing
Babies aren’t born with cavity bacteria.
They get it from their caregivers — usually through spoons, kisses on the mouth, cleaning pacifiers with your mouth, etc.
Minimizing this in the early months protects their oral microbiome.
4️⃣ Get a prenatal dental cleaning
Safe during pregnancy — and reduces inflammation and harmful bacteria.
A cleaner mouth during pregnancy = healthier environment for baby.
5️⃣ Nourish baby’s developing teeth in the womb
Baby teeth begin forming around 6–8 weeks of pregnancy.
Vitamins A, D, K2, calcium, magnesium & omega-3s support stronger enamel and healthier early growth.
6️⃣ Support healthy nasal breathing
Nasal breathing increases nitric oxide & oxygen levels, both important for fetal development.
If you’re congested, use pregnancy-safe nasal hygiene to keep airflow clear.
7️⃣ After birth: use xylitol wipes for baby
Before teeth erupt, you can gently clean baby’s gums with xylitol-infused infant oral wipes.
Most brands are used 1–2 times per day, after feedings, to help reduce bacterial buildup and prep for healthy teeth.
8️⃣ Plan their first dental visit by age 1
Early prevention catches feeding issues, ties, enamel defects, early cavities, and airway concerns before they snowball.
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