Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your mouth more susceptible to disease. Your gums may bleed and become inflamed, and you may get a cavity or cavities even though you haven't had one for a while. Proper dental care is especially important at this time because of risks associated with periodontal disease, a serious progressive gum disease where there is loss of attachment of bone and gums to the roots of teeth. Periodontal disease can lead to premature and low birth weight births and increase your risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory infection. In general during pregnancy, avoid x-rays and elective dental treatment that requires the use of local ancosmetic (particularly containing epinephrine) in the first trimester and second half of the third trimester. Be sure to continue regular dental visits!
Also consider that the bacteria that cause tooth decay can be transmitted from mother to child at a very early age. In fact, there is recent evidence that there is colonization of the bacteria on oral soft tissues as early as around the time of birth! It has also been shown that the more of these bacteria the mother has in her mouth when the child is an infant, the more likely that child will have cavities in the future.
One thing a proactive mom-to-be, like you, may consider is to chew 5 gms (the recommended dosage for caries prevention) of xylitol gum per day during pregnancy and even through the infant years of your child's life. Accomplish this recommendation by chewing the gum for about 5 minutes (or until the sweetness is gone) after each meal plus shortly before bedtime. This dosage of xylitol has been shown by research to greatly reduce your child's risk of future cavities. Purchase your xylitol gum in cost-effective bulk quantities at Silver Star Dental.