4 Important Dental Things to Know During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is such an exciting and transformative season of life—but it also comes with unique changes that affect your oral health and your baby’s future dental health. Many moms are surprised to learn just how connected their own mouths are to their baby’s development, both in utero and after birth. Here are four important things to know:

1. Your Baby Inherits Your Oral Bacteria

For years, we thought babies were born sterile and only got their first exposure to bacteria while passing through the birth canal. We now know that isn’t true. Research shows that bacteria from your mouth can reach your baby in utero. If harmful, disease-causing bacteria are present, this exposure can be linked to complications such as miscarriage or pre-term birth.

Even beyond pregnancy, moms pass their oral microbiome to their children. Families often share similar bacteria profiles, which is why people sometimes say “bad teeth run in the family.” Genetics play a small role, but bacteria play a much larger one. If mom has high levels of cavity-causing or gum-disease-causing bacteria, her baby will likely inherit them.

The good news? Improving your oral microbiome before and during pregnancy helps set your baby up for a healthier mouth and reduces the risk of cavities and periodontal disease later in life.

📌 Research highlight: A randomized clinical trial in Finland showed that mothers who chewed xylitol gum after delivery passed significantly fewer cavity-causing bacteria to their children. By age 5, those children had about 70% fewer cavities compared to children whose mothers used fluoride or chlorhexidine.

2. Nursing Supports Healthy Growth and Breathing

Nursing provides countless health benefits, but one often-overlooked benefit is its impact on oral and facial development. Proper breastfeeding helps a baby learn nasal breathing—the healthiest breathing pattern for life. It also encourages the tongue to rest and press against the roof of the mouth during swallowing, which helps mold the palate into a wide, healthy shape.

A wider palate means:

• More space for teeth

• Better sinus and airway development

• Improved breathing patterns into adulthood

  
  

Support for nursing success may include a lactation consultant, craniosacral therapist, chiropractor, or myofunctional therapist. Identifying tongue or lip ties early is also important, as they can affect latching and swallowing patterns that impact oral growth long term.

Even if breastfeeding isn’t possible, ensuring proper tongue and lip function can make a big difference for your child’s airway and facial development.

3. Pregnancy and Motherhood Raise Your Cavity Risk

Many moms find themselves getting new cavities during or after pregnancy—and there’s a reason why. Hormonal shifts during pregnancy and nursing can reduce saliva flow and alter its protective composition. Since saliva helps buffer acids, remineralize enamel, and wash away food, less saliva means a higher cavity risk.

Other factors that make this season a “perfect storm” for cavities include:

• Hormone-driven gum inflammation

• Increased snacking from higher calorie needs

• Nausea or reflux exposing teeth to more acid

• Fatigue or time constraints leading to skipped brushing or flossing

  
  

Awareness is key—so you can take steps to protect your teeth before, during, and after pregnancy.

4. Practical Steps to Protect You and Baby

Here are some simple but powerful steps to support both your health and your baby’s:

• Get a saliva test: Learn which bacteria are dominant in your mouth and take action to balance your microbiome.

• Optimize oral care products: Use safe, effective options that reduce harmful bacteria without disrupting healthy ones.

• Support nutrition: Prenatal vitamins are essential, but so is a nutrient-rich diet. Clean sources of meat, eggs, and dairy support healthy teeth. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, pay extra attention to vitamin D3, K2, and mineral intake.

• Build your care team: Have a support system ready—whether that includes a lactation consultant, craniosacral therapist, myofunctional therapist, chiropractor, or dentist trained in infant lip/tongue tie evaluation.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Pregnancy is the perfect time to take control of your oral health—not just for you, but for your baby’s lifelong dental and airway development. By improving your oral microbiome, supporting breastfeeding success, and protecting yourself from cavities, you’re giving your little one one of the best starts possible.