Pregnant Women

Pass Along Good Oral Health to Your Baby

Learn more about infant oral health, and oral health during pregnancy. Visit this site by Delta Dental Foundation. Delta Dental Foundation’s Materials for Pregnant Women

• Delta Dental Foundation Card Fax Flyer Form
• Delta Dental Foundation Infant Card
• Delta Dental Foundation Infant Card Spanish Version

Tooth decay is the most chronic disease in the U.S., with two out of ten kids having an untreated cavity by the time they reach three years old.
 
If you have cavity-causing germs in your mouth, you can easily pass those germs to your baby and cause their tooth decay.  Simple activities can pass the germs, such as:

• Sharing utensils
• Cleaning pacifier or bottle nipple with your mouth
• Any saliva sharing activity

If you are expecting a baby or have young children, see your dentist regularly to keep your mouth clean.  Studies actually show that mothers who have healthier mouths have a lower chance of passing cavity-causing germs to their babies.
 
So do your part to start your baby’s smile off right and see your dentist.  And pass along good oral health to your baby, not cavity-causing germs.

Resources

• What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know brochure
  • English
  • Spanish
• Common Oral Conditions in Pregnancy
• Poor Birth Outcomes article
• Click here if you need to find an oral health provider.
• Want to read more about keeping your mouth smart during pregnancy? Visit the American Academy of Periodontology for “Baby Steps to a Healthy Pregnancy and On-Time Delivery.”
• For a Healthy Baby Tip Sheet