- With Mayo Clinic certified nurse-midwife
Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Mary Murry is a certified nurse-midwife in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Murry, a Cincinnati native, has been a nurse-midwife practitioner for more than 20 years and is an instructor at the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic. She was a contributing reviewer and writer of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book.
Her research interests include adult female survivors of sexual abuse, women's perception of pain in labor, and obesity in pregnancy.
Latest entries
- Prenatal genetic screening
Jan. 7, 2012
- Induced labor: Making an informed decision
Dec. 16, 2011
- Late pregnancy symptoms
Oct. 18, 2011
- Overdue baby: Will this baby ever be born?
Oct. 4, 2011
- Teenage pregnancy: Advice for parents of teens
Sept. 1, 2011
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Pregnancy and you blog
-
June 2, 2009
Dental health during pregnancy
By Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Dental health during pregnancy isn't a glamorous topic, but it's an important one. Misconceptions and misinformation about dental health during pregnancy are common — and often these issues aren't discussed at prenatal appointments.
Consider possible dental health problems during pregnancy:
- Tooth decay. During pregnancy, increased acidity in the mouth increases the risk of tooth decay. Vomiting during pregnancy can aggravate the problem by exposing the teeth to more gastric acid.
- Loose teeth. Increased levels of progesterone and estrogen can affect the ligaments and bones that support the teeth, causing teeth to loosen during pregnancy — even in the absence of gum disease.
- Gum disease. The hormonal changes of pregnancy can lead to gingivitis, an inflammation of the superficial gum tissue. Left untreated, severe gum disease may be associated with preterm birth and low birth weight.
So what can you do to keep your teeth and gums healthy during pregnancy? Stick to the basics. Use a soft bristled toothbrush. Floss regularly. Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash. If you have morning sickness, rinse your mouth with a solution of baking soda and water after vomiting. Mix one teaspoon baking soda in one cup water.
Ideally, schedule a dental exam before pregnancy to treat any dental problems ahead of time. Also visit your dentist regularly during pregnancy — especially if you develop a dental problem. If you have questions or concerns about dental care during pregnancy, you can also check with your health care provider.
10 comments posted
July 16, 2011 8:24 p.m.
are cavity freezing and fillings safe to get when pregnant ?
- carla
April 11, 2011 5:29 p.m.
I think your current practice is fine. Dental X-rays are very focused on a small area.
- Mary @ Mayo
April 7, 2011 9:22 p.m.
I need professional advice..I am a dental assistant, 6 weeks pregnant. I take dental xrays every day, I do not wear a shield but do stand behind a wall ( regular wall) to press the botton. how safe or unsafe is that? should I be concerned?
- N.M
March 25, 2011 3:26 p.m.
I am in very early days of first trimester (around 45 days) of pregnancy.I am sensing pain in the gums and tooth sensitivity is very high which makes me to chew my food only on one side.In the past few days,it is really getting worse.Should I consult a dentist or bear with the pain by using mouth wash?Please advice me!
- Prabha
January 16, 2011 6:34 p.m.
What if you have a cavity during pregnancy? Is there anything that the dentist normally would do that is not appropriate/healthy when you're pregnant?
- Sally
July 4, 2010 10:37 a.m.
There are many dental issues facing pregnant women, the most common being dental cavities and gingivitis. Prevention is key and pregnant women should visit their vaughan dentist during the early stages of their pregnancy.
- No name given
March 25, 2010 1:49 p.m.
Dental neglect can lead to many problems. Many of us (myself included) have an eversion to dentists. During pregnancy especially our dislike of dentists and procedures has to be put away. No matter the problem, a dentist can take care of it during pregnancy. Who would ever think that dental problems could harm the unborn baby, but they can. Remember, bursh twice daily and floss every day. Even though you may experience some bleeding from your gums, keep up the good tooth and gum care.
- Mary@Mayo
March 1, 2010 1:17 p.m.
Heard a talk from a NYC dentist about this - she said dental neglect by moms-to-be has been linked to low-birthweight, pre-term delivery and gestational diabetes. She assured us that today's dental treatments, even x-rays and anesthesia, are safe for mom and baby and will help assure the health of both mother and growing child.
- George
October 8, 2009 3:40 p.m.
I have a teeth problem such as caries and I want to know if I can cure my teeth to the dentist with the dental substancies? Thanks in advance
- Diana
July 7, 2009 1:13 a.m.
It's important for you to take good care of your teeth and gums while you are pregnant. Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase your risk of developing gum disease, which in turn, can affect the health of your developing baby.
- Rocky
10 comments posted