Balancing Braces With a Baby: Should You Get Braces Early in Your Pregnancy?

Carrying a baby around for nine months is challenging as it is. After all, you have to deal with a whole host of changes, many of them difficult to adjust to, including nausea and cravings for weird and wonderful foods. But what happens when you combine such a huge undertaking with orthodontic treatment? Is it safe? Will braces affect your baby in any way?

You Can Safely Combine a Baby and Braces

Fortunately, going through orthodontic treatment while pregnant won't harm or affect your baby in any way. However, if you are getting braces early in your pregnancy, before pregnancy symptoms start, you need to prepare for the changes that will begin in the coming weeks. The changes your body is about to go through will make your orthodontic treatment more challenging.

Your Appetite Might Clash With Your Braces

As you already know, the hormonal changes that you are about to go through could lead to you developing cravings for certain foods. Moreover, many pregnant women crave sweet foods while pregnant. And since sticky, chewy, crunchy and hard foods could damage or lodge in your braces, you will need to be disciplined in your food choices.

However, if your cravings are overpowering, try talking to your dentist. With their experience, they may be able to recommend some similar but safer foods to the ones you are craving. For instance, if toffee is something you begin to crave, you could eat toffee-flavoured custard instead.

You'll Need to Prepare for Morning Sickness

Morning sickness and braces can be messy if you don't prepare beforehand. If you get your braces placed before you begin to feel bouts of nausea in the mornings and evenings, be ready to adjust your diet if necessary. If your nausea is especially bad, cut your food into smaller pieces before eating. That way, if you are sick, the food particles won't lodge in your braces.

And always carry a bottle of water with you wherever you go so you can wash your mouth out if a bout of nausea hits while you are outside. The last thing you need is for the acid in your bile to cling to your braces and erode your teeth.

You Need to Juggle Dentist and Hospital Visits

Between weeks 4 and 28 of your pregnancy, you'll need to visit your doctor at least once a month. However, your orthodontist will also need to see you regularly to ensure your treatment is progressing and to adjust your braces. Fortunately, this is something you can discuss with your orthodontics provider. Together, you can customise your treatment to suit yours and your baby's needs.

You can get braces while in the early stages of pregnancy. Just make sure you are ready for the unique challenges of balancing braces and a baby.