Text alternative: Healthy smiles during pregnancy

Food

• Eat a healthy diet (like vegetables, lean meat, fish, chicken, bread, cereals, nuts and dairy foods).
• Include calcium rich foods in your diet (like salmon, broccoli, baked beans, milk and cheese).
  
• Cut down on sweets like chocolates and cakes.

Drinks

• Drink tap water everyday.
• Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice.
• Avoid caffeine, soft drinks, sport drinks and alcohol’. Replace with: Avoid drinks with caffeine and added sugars, like soft drinks, cordials, juice, sports drinks or energy drinks.

Brushing teeth

• Brush your teeth and gums in the morning and before going to bed at night.
• Use a soft bristled toothbrush with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.
• If you have morning sickness, rinse your mouth with water after vomiting and wipe a little fluoride toothpaste over your teeth with your finger.
• Brushing teeth after vomiting (which is acidic) can wear away your tooth enamel. Wait 30 minutes before brushing.

Dental check-ups

• See your dentist either before or soon after you become pregnant for a check-up.
• It is SAFE to have dental treatment when you are pregnant.
  

Did you know...

• If you have dental problems, pregnancy can make it worse and this may affect the health of your baby.
• If you have poor dental health your baby is more likely to have dental problems after birth.
  
• Smoking, vaping, drinking alcohol and using drugs can also harm your baby in pregnancy.​
  

Additional information

Contact your local Aboriginal Medical Service to access dental services.

For further details and eligibility criteria visit our Information for patients.​