What do pregnancy and dental care have in common?
If you are insured by Washington’s Apple Health, you have coverage for both!
Pregnancy takes a toll on a woman’s body: fatigue, bones move and adjust, back pain, swollen feet and ankles… an expectant mother needs special care to ensure that both she and her baby stay in the best possible health. Oral health is a big part of prenatal care, too. Poor oral health during pregnancy can lead to poor health outcomes for the mother and the baby.
If you think you are pregnant, you should seek care right away so that your obstetrician can monitor your health, but you should also see your dentist. Oral health during pregnancy and infancy is especially important to set children up for a lifetime of good health.
About 60% to 70% of pregnant people have gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease. Gingivitis causes gums to get red and swollen from inflammation that might be aggravated by changing hormones during pregnancy. If gingivitis is not treated, it affects the bone that supports the teeth and could cause loose teeth or even tooth loss.
Pregnant people might also be at risk for cavities due to changes in eating and other health habits. Cavity causing bacteria in a mother’s mouth during and right after pregnancy can transfer to the baby. Early contact with these bacteria and other sugars, through behaviors like taking a bottle to bed, can lead to early childhood cavities and the need for extensive dental care at a young age.
Community Health Care offers MSS (Maternity Support Services) to pregnant people on Apple Health. MSS offers a wealth of services, such as: connecting families with needed medical and community resources, parenting support, education (learning about how to make healthy choices for the family and the new baby), and behavioral health counseling. There are obstetricians on staff to monitor pregnancy and deliver the baby when the time comes. Community Health Care also has 5 full-service dental clinics and if you are on Apple Health (Medicaid) you are covered for dental services during your pregnancy and up to one year after your baby is born. Your MSS case worker can assist you with making dental appointments.
Community Health Care offers free pregnancy tests and walk-in emergency dental care, serving everyone, with or without insurance.
Now you know what dental care and pregnancy have in common! Good prenatal care, both medical and dental, helps put you on the right track towards a healthy baby. Call Community Health Care for an appointment at (253) 722-2161 or you can visit the website for more information at www.commhealth.org
