As always, eating a variety of foods is still important during pregnancy. By eating many different foods, you will be helping you and your baby receive many different nutrients important for growth and vitality. You should do your best to eat foods lower in sugar, such as Greek yogurt, cheeses, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins. An important mineral to consume is folic acid, which decreases the risk of your child developing birth defects. Foods high in folic acid include asparagus, bananas, beans, bread, broccoli, cereals, leafy greens, peas, and rice are excellent natural sources of folic acid.

Certain foods can damage your good dental hygiene. Specifically, foods which are sugary may endanger your oral health by creating plaque buildup and (eventually) tooth decay in your mouth. Just as you should seek out good foods, avoid unhealthy foods like sugary drinks, jams, cookies, candies, and cakes. Foregoing these sugary foods will prevent too much plaque and tartar from forming on your teeth, thwarting the development of oral diseases.

We have one more suggestion about how to eat when pregnant: by spacing snacks out across your day, you may be able to minimize the effects of motion sickness and nausea that you experience during pregnancy. If you decide to snack often, we hope that you’ll brush often as well; snacking increases plaque buildup, which can harm your teeth and gums.

If you’re ready to keep your mouth healthy during your pregnancy, please contact our dentist’s office in Northport, New York; our staff at Northport Prosthodontics are trained to assist pregnant women. Dr. John Poulos will go over the do’s and don’ts of dental health during pregnancy to help you stay confident that your mouth stays healthy and strong. Please call us now at 631-262-0644 to schedule your next appointment.

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