Topic

Hygiene in the pregnancy

Pregnancy is a special moment. It is important that the woman continues to take care of herself and find herself beautiful at this stage of her life.

Leader, some tips help guide pregnant women:

  • Bathing in running water is better: it can be in a spout, shower, or mug.
  • Bathing with the woman sitting in the basin or showering inside the vagina is not recommended, as they carry microbes from the vagina to the uterus, where the baby is.
  • Washing the head does not harm the pregnant woman. 
  • Clean and comfortable clothes help you feel well. 
  • Tight elastic stockings can block blood circulation and cause varicose veins. 
  • The best show is the one with a sole that does not slip, to prevent falls.

Mouth Health

Pregnancy does not cause cavities; they can appear when you increase the consumption of foods with sugar and when you brush your teeth poorly. On the other hand, due to variations in hormone levels, the pregnant woman’s gums can become more sensitive and result in gingivitis (gum bleeding). 

To prevent these problems, the pregnant woman needs to follow up with a dentist and, if necessary, undergo treatment. The best period for the pregnant woman to have dental treatment is between the fourth and sixth months of pregnancy, so the pregnant woman must go to the dentist at the beginning of the pregnancy.

See how dental care works in your country: The Philippines

Pregnant women are entitled to free public dental care for prevention and treatment.

It is necessary to maintain daily mouth hygiene very carefully, using floss, soft toothbrush, and toothpaste. Leader, guide the pregnant woman to brush her teeth as follows:

  • Make circular movements; or
  • Brush in the direction in which the teeth grow.   

The upper teeth are brushed before the lower teeth, always following the same sequence, so as not to forget to brush any teeth. See the photos below:

The lower teeth are brushed from bottom to top.

The outside of the teeth (near the cheek) and the inside of the teeth (near the tongue) are brushed first with circular moves and, to complete, with sweeping moves. 

In the part where the upper teeth touch the lower teeth, brushing is done with back-and-forth moves. And it is important to carefully brush the teeth at the back of the mouth and brush the tongue.

Floss

Flossing helps to remove bacterial plaque that a toothbrush can’t remove. 

Glide the floss up and down, slowly, and gently so as not to hurt the gums. In some cases, it may bleed but it is important to continue flossing daily.

Leader, you can teach the pregnant woman and family to prepare a homemade floss, using a piece of spool number ten covered in paraffin or beeswax. Another material that can be used is the transparent raffia of the packaging, if it is very clean. Even a strip of plastic bag or milk carton can be used as dental floss.

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