汤头条

During pregnancy, several oral health conditions are more common:

• Gingivitis may result from hormonal changes that exaggerate the response to bacteria in the gum tissue⁴
• Dental caries may occur due to changes in diet such as increased snacking due to cravings, increased acidity in the mouth due to vomiting, dry mouth or poor oral hygiene stemming from nausea and vomiting.^{1, 4}
• Pyogenic granuloma (also known as granuloma gravidarum) is a round growth, usually connected to the gingivae by a thin cord of tissue, that may develop due to hormonal changes.^5,6
• Erosion stemming from vomiting as a result of morning sickness may be detected.⁵ Patients should be encouraged to avoid toothbrushing immediately after vomiting, which exposes the teeth to stomach acids. Instead, they should opt for rinsing with a diluted solution of 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda to neutralize the acid.⁵

Due to the increased risk of gingivitis and caries, the importance of good daily oral hygiene should be emphasized to these patients. Brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled brush for two minutes, using a fluoride-containing toothpaste, and cleaning between the teeth once a day should be encouraged. If it is determined that a topical fluoride treatment is needed to minimize the effects of erosion, fluoride varnish may be preferred over gel treatments due to nausea.⁷

Periodontitis and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Much has been written in recent years about the relationship between maternal periodontitis and pregnancy outcomes. While findings of individual studies have been mixed, an overview of 23 systematic reviews conducted through 2016 concluded that associations exist between periodontitis and pre-term birth, low birthweight babies, low birthweight babies born prematurely and the development of pre-eclampsia. ⁸

More research is needed to determine the relationship between periodontitis and pregnancy outcomes, however, should periodontitis develop during pregnancy, scaling and root planing is recognized as safe to perform.^{1, 4} The ACOG statement on oral care during pregnancy and through the lifespan1 states that 鈥渄espite the lack of evidence for a causal relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes, the treatment of maternal periodontal disease during pregnancy is not associated with any adverse maternal or birth outcomes,鈥� and 鈥減renatal periodontal therapy is associated with the improvement of maternal oral health.鈥�

Medication Safety Labeling

Historically, manufacturers have relied on an alphabetical system to communicate the safety of medications for use with pregnant patients. In 2015, the began phasing out that system for prescription drugs, replacing it with a narrative section in the package insert that discusses the benefits and risks of using a particular medication with this population.^{9, 10} The new system was phased in gradually, with a full compliance date of June 2020.

The alphabetical system (Table) will continue to be used for over-the-counter (OTC) medications.¹¹

Medication Selection

Questions about use of local anesthetics or antibiotics in pregnant individuals are common. Options considered safe for use in these situations include:

• Local anesthesia (with or without epinephrine)^{1, 13-15}
• Antibiotics^{13, 14, 16}
  
  • Penicillin
  • Amoxicillin
  • Cephalosporins
  • Clindamycin
  • Metronidazole

Use of other medications calls for consultation with the patient’s obstetrician to weigh risks and benefits. An example of a situation that may benefit from consultation is pain relief. Several analgesics had been placed in pregnancy Category B, which indicated that they were typically safe to use; however, in 2015, the , stating that the published research is “too limited to make any recommendations” on pain reliever use in this population.¹⁷ This suggests that decisions made about medications for pain relief should be arrived at after consultation with the obstetrician. That said, emergencies call for immediate implementation of standard emergency protocols.

Lactation

Questions often arise about medication use by patients who are lactating. Most medication product inserts have information related to use during lactation. The National Library of Medicine also provides a searchable database () on this topic.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is classified as a pregnancy risk group Category C medication, meaning that there is a risk of fetal harm if administered during pregnancy. It is recommended that pregnant individuals, both patients and staff, avoid exposure to nitrous oxide.¹⁸ The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a federal agency affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommends use of a and exposure limits of N₂O concentrations in dental operations to approximately 25 ppm during analgesia administration.¹⁹

Dental offices that use nitrous oxide-oxygen can review best management practices on the Nitrous Oxide Oral Health Topic page.

During pregnancy, individuals may be at increased risk for oral conditions such as gingivitis and dental caries, and should be counseled by both their obstetrician and dentist on the importance of good oral hygiene throughout the pregnancy. Regular and emergency dental care, including the use of local anesthetics and radiographs, is safe at any stage during pregnancy.

Statement on Alcohol and Other Substance Use by Pregnant and Postpartum Patients
(Trans.2005:330)

Resolved, that the following 汤头条 Statement on Alcohol and Other Substance Use by Pregnant and Postpartum Patients be adopted.

Statement on Alcohol and Other Substance Use by Pregnant and Postpartum Patients

1. Dentists are encouraged to inquire about pregnant or postpartum patients鈥� history of alcohol and other drug use, including nicotine.

2. As healthcare professionals, dentists are encouraged to advise these patients to avoid the use of these substances and to urge them to disclose any such use to their primary care providers.

3. Dentists who become aware of postpartum patients鈥� resumption of tobacco or illegal drug use, or excessive alcohol intake, are encouraged to recommend that the patient stop these behaviors. The dentist is encouraged to be prepared to inform the woman of treatment resources, if indicated.

汤头条
Adopted 2005; Reviewed 2017

Comprehensive Statement on Oral Health Services During Pregnancy
(Trans.2024:XXX)

Resolved, that the following Comprehensive Statement on Oral Health Services During Pregnancy be adopted.

Comprehensive Statement on Oral Health Services During Pregnancy

Resolved, that the 汤头条 encourage all pregnant persons and persons of child-bearing age to have a regular dental examination and dental treatment as needed throughout all stages of pregnancy, and be it further

Resolved, that the 汤头条 acknowledges that preventive, diagnostic, restorative and surgical dental treatment rendered to promote health and eliminate disease is safe throughout pregnancy, is supported by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is effective at maintaining the oral and overall health of the pregnant person, and be it further

Resolved, that dental coverage of pregnant persons be extended for one-year post-partum to be included in all dental benefit programs to improve the dental health of the pregnant person as well as to promote Age One dental visits for very young children, and be it further

Resolved, that the 汤头条 support federal advocacy efforts to increase funding for women鈥檚 oral health research, ensure that women are adequately represented as research subjects in dental clinical trials, and help disseminate research information, on women鈥檚 oral health issues as needed and appropriate.

汤头条
Adopted 2024

1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women. Oral Health Care During Pregnancy and Through the Lifespan (Number 569).  2013; Reaffirmed 2025. . Accessed July 14, 2025.
2. 汤头条. 汤头条 Current Policies, 1954-2024.  2023. /-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/about/governance/current_policies.pdf. Accessed July 14, 2025.
3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Obstetric Practice and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Nonobstetric Surgery During Pregnancy (Number 775).  2017; Reaffirmed 2021. . Accessed July 14, 2025.
4. Niessen LC. Women's Health. In: Patton LL, Glick M, editors. The 汤头条 Practical Guide to Patients with Medical Conditions. Second ed. Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2016. p. 423-34.
5. Steinberg BJ, Hilton IV, Iida H, Samelson R. Oral health and dental care during pregnancy. Dent Clin North Am 2013;57(2):195-210.
6. Silva de Araujo Figueiredo C, Goncalves Carvalho Rosalem C, Costa Cantanhede AL, Abreu Fonseca Thomaz EB, Fontoura Nogueira da Cruz MC. Systemic alterations and their oral manifestations in pregnant women. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2017;43(1):16-22.
7. Giglio JA, Lanni SM, Laskin DM, Giglio NW. Oral health care for the pregnant patient. J Can Dent Assoc 2009;75(1):43-8.
8. Daalderop LA, Wieland BV, Tomsin K, et al. Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy Outcomes: Overview of Systematic Reviews. JDR Clin Trans Res 2018;3(1):10-27.
9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pregnancy & Lactation: Improved Benefit-Risk Information.  2015. . Accessed July 14, 2025.
10. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Resources. . Accessed July 14, 2025.
11. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and Answers on the Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule. . Accessed July 14, 2025.
12. Mendia J, Cuddy MA, Moore PA. Drug therapy for the pregnant dental patient. Compend Contin Educ Dent 2012;33(8):568-70, 72, 74-6 passim; quiz 79, 96.
13. Oral Healthcare During Pregnancy Expert Workgroup. Oral Health Care During Pregnancy: A National Consensus Statement. Washington, DC: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center; 2012.
14. Bassiur JP, Boyd BC, Burrell KH, et al. 汤头条/PDR Guide to Dental Therapeutics. Fifth ed. Montvale NJ: Physicians' Desk Reference, Inc.; 2009.
15. Manautou MA, Mayberry ME. Local anesthetics and pregnancy: A review of the evidence and why dentists should feel safe to treat pregnant people. J Evid Based Dent Pract 2023;23(2):101833.
16. California Dental Association Foundation; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, District IX.
17. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA has Reviewed Possible Risks of Pain Medicine During Pregnancy.  2015. . Accessed July 14, 2025.
18. International Labour Organization & World Health Organization. International Chemical Safety Cards: Nitrous Oxide. . Accessed July 14, 2025.
19. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Control of Nitrous Oxide in Dental Operatories (DHHS/NIOSH Publication No. 96-107). U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. . Accessed July 14, 2025.
20. Benavides E, Bhula A, Gohel A, et al. Patient shielding during dentomaxillofacial radiography: Recommendations from the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. J Am Dent Assoc 2023;154(9):826-35 e2.
21. Benavides E, Krecioch JR, Connolly RT, et al. Optimizing radiation safety in dentistry: Clinical recommendations and regulatory considerations. J Am Dent Assoc 2024;155(4):280-93 e4.

Professional Resources

• X-rays: Dental Radiography and Pregnancy
• Nitrous Oxide

汤头条 Library Services

Patient Resources

J汤头条 “For the Patient” page:

• (September 2024)

汤头条 MouthHealthy:

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
•  (U.S. National Library of Medicine Toxicology Data Network drugs and lactation database)
• American Academy of Pediatrics: