Mothers-to-be have much to be concerned about. Often they’re busy decorating a nursery, maybe knitting booties or a baby blanket—generally making preparations for the precious bundle soon to arrive. Many pregnant women are doing all this while maintaining careers and perhaps caring for other small children. This may mean little time for an expectant mom to think about herself or her diet.
However, how a woman takes care of herself during pregnancy—especially with regard to her diet—is essential to her good health and the development of her growing child. The food and nutrients a woman ingests can have a marked effect on both mother and baby.
Both a mother’s teeth and the teeth of her child will be affected by what she eats. Many women develop cravings during pregnancy. Because of this, they have a tendency to snack more often. It’s important to choose foods wisely when snacking, but it’s especially important during pregnancy. Selecting fresh fruits and vegetables, and dairy products such as cheeses is always smart. Snacking on sweets too often can only result in poor nutrition and elevate the risk of decay.
Good nutrition for the mother is essential to the developing child throughout pregnancy as well. A baby’s teeth develop in the woman’s second trimester—from the third to sixth month of gestation. Nutrients crucial to good tooth development include vitamins A, C, and D. Calcium, phosphorous, and protein are minerals that aid in tooth and bone growth.
Pregnancy myths and facts
Myth: If a woman does not ingest enough calcium during her pregnancy, the baby will take calcium from her teeth to develop his or her own.
Fact: If a woman does not ingest enough calcium to help her baby grow healthy teeth, her body can harvest what’s needed for the baby from stores in the woman’s bones.
Filed under: Health
