10 Things You Should Know About Oral Health 

Information for New and Expectant Mothers 

By John P. Rossetti, DMD and Amy Seif


Closing the Gap, Oral Health • July 1999


The old adage, “For every baby, a tooth” addresses the notion that pregnancy causes tooth loss. There is no justification for tooth loss due 

to a decline in a mother’s oral health. With reasonable and proper care prior to and during pregnancy, new mothers can avoid oral health 

problems while protecting the oral health of her child. 

Dental disease is an infectious disease. Transmission of cavity-causing bacteria can occur between a mother and her baby.Therefore, mothers 

play an important role in preventing dental disease. The following are 10 things every expectant or new mother should know: 

1.	 Visit the dentist. An expectant mother should visit her dentist 7. Prevent early childhood caries. Early childhood caries, or baby 

soon after learning she is pregnant. Reducing the mother’s cav- bottle tooth decay, is caused by frequent and prolonged expoity-causing bacteria will reduce the amount of cavity-causing sure of a child’s teeth to sugar and Streptococcus mutans—a 

bacteria passed to the baby. cavity-causing bacteria. This exposure is often the result of putting a child to bed with a bottle containing sugary liquid (includ2.	 Take vitamins. The baby’s developing teeth depend on the ing milk, formula, or fruit juice) or allowing a child to drink “at 

mother’s proper intake of important minerals and vitamins. Eat will” from a bottle during the day. The most important way to 

balanced meals and remember to take the vitamins prescribed by reduce the risk of early childhood caries is to never put a baby to 

a doctor daily. bed with a bottle and encourage baby to drink water. Wean a 

baby from a bottle as early as possible to promote good oral 

3.	 Check the status of community drinking water. Parents should health. Most children are ready to begin using a cup between six 

find out about the fluoride status of their drinking water. If the and nine months of age. 

water supply is not fluoridated, parents should ask their dental 8. Special considerations for children with special health care needs. 

provider about fluoride supplementation. Some children born with special health care needs, such as cleft 

lip and cleft palate, have their own special concerns. For example, 

4.	 Clean baby’s mouth. Even before the first tooth erupts, clean an increased intake of sweetened medications may make these 

baby’s gums with a cloth after every meal. Beginning with the children more susceptible to dental decay. Parents can ask their 

first tooth, clean baby’s teeth with a soft brush. Teeth should be oral health provider for suggestions for alternative medication or 

brushed with a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste start- preventive intervention to minimize effects. 

ing at 12 months. Cleaning the gums and brushing the teeth 

early encourage children to develop good oral hygiene habits and 9. Prevent oral/facial injuries. Parents should not allow their babies 

can be useful in preventing early childhood caries. to use walkers due to considerable risk of injuries to the head and 

face, and should request that family members not give them as 

5.	 Take baby to the dentist. A baby’s teeth usually come in be- gifts. In addition, the use of car seats and safe use of shopping 

tween six and twelve months of age. This is an excellent time to carts can prevent many situations that place a child’s oral health 

bring baby in for its first dental visit. A good dentist wants to see at risk. 

baby teeth early and regularly. 

10. Encourage healthy eating habits. It is never too early to encourage 

6.	 Take care of baby teeth. A common misconception among par- healthy eating habits that will also benefit good oral health. Inents is that a child’s baby teeth are not important. Baby teeth troduce baby to healthy and unsweetened snacks that do not 

serve as “placeholders” for permanent teeth, help a child to chew promote tooth decay. 

properly, develop proper speech and a beautiful smile. 

Some people should see a dentist more often than others 

People who should see a dentist every six months are: 

children who are one year old and still using a bottle; 

children age six or seven years who have not had sealants placed on their teeth; 

children age 12 or 13 years who have not had sealants placed on their teeth; 

pregnant women; 

people who have diabetes; and 

people who have heart disease. 

Office of Minority Health Resource Center	 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
10 Things You Should Know About Oral Health 

Information for New and Expectant Mothers 

By John P. Rossetti, DMD and Amy Seif 

Closing the Gap, Oral Health • July 1999 

Bright Futures in Practice: Oral Health is a guide that addresses 

the oral health needs of children ages 0-21 by presenting guidelines 

on oral health promotion and disease prevention and other preventive 

strategies and tools. 

The guide is designed for many health and education professionals, including dental professionals, physicians, nurses, nutritionists, educators, and child care providers. The information in this 

guide can also be adapted for use with families. 

For more information on Bright Futures, go to their Web site at 

http://www.brightfutures.org 

Dr. Rossetti is chief dental officer of HRSA’s Maternal and Child 

Health Bureau. Amy Seif works for the National Maternal and Child 

Oral Health Resource Center.

Office of Minority Health Resource Center U.S. Department of Health and Human Services