You already know you’re eating for two. And that you have to eat right so your baby develops properly. But did you realize that what you eat even affects your baby’s teeth?

Believe it or not, your baby’s teeth begin to form between the third and sixth month of pregnancy. To give those teeth a strong and healthy start, you need to consume the right amounts of vitamins A, C and D, protein, calcium and phosphorus. Your doctor can help you determine which foods and vitamins you can eat now to help your baby smile on in the future.

Here’s a list of common pregnancy myths and the facts to clear them up. Heard any good ones lately?

• “You’ll lose one tooth with each pregnancy”
  
  Don’t lose any sleep over this one – it’s absolutely false.
  
  
• “Your baby steals the calcium from your teeth”
  
  Only if you don’t get enough calcium in your diet. If you don’t consume enough calcium rich foods, your body will take calcium from wherever it can find it – usually your bones.
  
  
• “You’re more likely to get gum disease while you’re pregnant because your hormone levels are always changing”
  
  Not true. Plaque causes gum disease, regardless of your hormone levels. If not removed regularly, plaque can irritate your gums, making them red, tender and likely to bleed easily. When left untreated, this gum condition can lead to more serious diseases that affect the gums and bone that keep your teeth in place. As always, you should watch what you eat and snack on, brush regularly and floss daily to keep gum disease at bay.
  
  
• “Even if you do have gum disease, it won’t effect you or your baby’s health”
  
  Think again. New research suggests a link between pre-term, low-birth weight babies and gum disease. The bacteria that cause gum disease can enter your bloodstream through your gums. If this happens, the bacteria can travel to the uterus, triggering the production of a chemical called “prostaglandin,” which is suspected to induce premature labor.
  
  
• “It doesn’t matter if you put off seeing your dentist until after you have your baby”
  
  
  Big mistake. Good dental care is even more important during your pregnancy. You should continue with your dental checkups to avoid oral infections that could affect your baby, such as gum disease.

You already know you’re eating for two. And that you have to eat right so your baby develops properly. But did you realize that what you eat even affects your baby’s teeth?

Believe it or not, your baby’s teeth begin to form between the third and sixth month of pregnancy. To give those teeth a strong and healthy start, you need to consume the right amounts of vitamins A, C and D, protein, calcium and phosphorus. Your doctor can help you determine which foods and vitamins you can eat now to help your baby smile on in the future.

Here’s a list of common pregnancy myths and the facts to clear them up. Heard any good ones lately?

• “You’ll lose one tooth with each pregnancy”
  
  Don’t lose any sleep over this one – it’s absolutely false.
  
  
• “Your baby steals the calcium from your teeth”
  
  Only if you don’t get enough calcium in your diet. If you don’t consume enough calcium rich foods, your body will take calcium from wherever it can find it – usually your bones.
  
  
• “You’re more likely to get gum disease while you’re pregnant because your hormone levels are always changing”
  
  Not true. Plaque causes gum disease, regardless of your hormone levels. If not removed regularly, plaque can irritate your gums, making them red, tender and likely to bleed easily. When left untreated, this gum condition can lead to more serious diseases that affect the gums and bone that keep your teeth in place. As always, you should watch what you eat and snack on, brush regularly and floss daily to keep gum disease at bay.
  
  
• “Even if you do have gum disease, it won’t effect you or your baby’s health”
  
  Think again. New research suggests a link between pre-term, low-birth weight babies and gum disease. The bacteria that cause gum disease can enter your bloodstream through your gums. If this happens, the bacteria can travel to the uterus, triggering the production of a chemical called “prostaglandin,” which is suspected to induce premature labor.
  
  
• “It doesn’t matter if you put off seeing your dentist until after you have your baby”
  
  
  Big mistake. Good dental care is even more important during your pregnancy. You should continue with your dental checkups to avoid oral infections that could affect your baby, such as gum disease.