Dental Care When You Are Expecting
Over my years in practice I’ve had many patients at various stages of pregnancy.
These nine months are usually filled with excitement and anticipation of motherhood and seeing one’s baby for the first time. Yet, they are also filled with questions about what to expect, not only medically, but also from perspective of taking care of the mom’s (and the baby’s future) smile.
Here are a few tips on what to expect and to do….
What to Expect:
- Gum inflammation is more likely during the second trimester. Your gums may be swollen, tender, and may bleed during brushing and flossing.
- Plaque buildup during pregnancy is common, but brushing and flossing regularly can help. Your body may not fight off plaque as easily when you’re pregnant, which can lead to tooth decay and gingivitis. A dental hygienist can remove plaque buildup during your regularly-scheduled dental appointment.
- Although pregnancy does not cause periodontal disease directly, it can exacerbate this condition, which can result from untreated gingivitis (gum inflammation).
What to do…
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Your gums will likely be swollen and tender due to pregnancy gingivitis and using a soft bristle toothbrush will definitely be more comfortable.
- Floss gently at least once a day, especially before going to sleep. This will reduce the amount of residue, plaque and bacteria.
- Visit your dentist regularly for a professional cleaning and check-up.
- Eat a diet rich with calcium, vitamin B12 and vitamin C to help keep your gums healthy.
- Avoid certain antibiotics, such as Tetracyclin, as these can cause harm to the baby’s future teeth.
- As your hormone levels change, so could your breath. Try a breath spray such as our Blood Orange and Ginger for instant yummy freshness!!
3 things to look for in your oral care products
With the endless myriad of oral care products on the market, it’s easy to start questioning every ingredient in terms of its value and benefits to health versus possible harm.
As a doctor I am consistently asked about various ingredients in toothpastes, mouthwash and breath sprays.
After trying many oral care products myself and looking at the labels I have come up with three important factors to consider:
Fluoride
This is one of the most common active ingredients in toothpastes and over the counter mouthwash. Fluoride is an ingredient naturally found in soil and certain foods. It is also added to drinking water in many US states. Countless studies have shown the benefit of small amount of fluoride as caries (cavity) prevention.
Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems affecting children, and adding fluoride to the municipal water supply is a simple and effective way of preventing it.
In excessive amounts, however, fluoride can cause problems with bones, teeth (fluorosis) and neurological development.
As a dentist I have seen the affects of fluoride free tooth pastes, which is rampant decay in various parts of many teeth.
I would never advocate for fluoride free toothpaste, especially considering the toothpaste gets thoroughly cleaned from the mouth after brushing.
I would, however never advise any fluoride containing breath sprays.
Breath spray, such as VG French Golden Pear, is meant to freshen breath and create a feeling of a clean mouth for hours. It’s also meant to be safe if swallowed. Couple that with beautiful and easy to carry packaging as well as amazing taste and you have a winner breath spray!
Parabens
These are preservatives widely used in beauty products as well as some oral care products. They help to stabilize the product, thus preventing it from denaturing (spoiling) over a long period of time.
Though it has not been proved, parabens have been suspected of possibly facilitating breast cancer as they mimic Estrogen, a female hormone.
As breath spray, such as our VG Black Currant, may potentially be swallowed, we aimed at making them as safe as possible. Thus – No Parabens!
Cruelty Free
Numerous companies develop their products with use of animal testing in which various animal species, such as dogs and mice, experience horrible cruelty and are sacrificed for research. As someone who loves animals, I would never allow any of our products to be developed with use of animal experimentation. Our brand worked closely with all manufacturers to ensure no animals would be used in any of our product development. The result is creation of amazing products, such as our VG Blood Orange and Ginger breath spray, with absolutely no guilt!
9 things you should know about liquid lipstick
After launching our liquid lipstick product line, I had received a tremendous number of questions about their use in every day life, their color quality, stay power and their overall look.
‘What do they do for my smile?’ and ‘How long do they stay on?’ were just some of the questions sent to us on Social Media and through our website.
Well, here’s a rundown on all there is to know about the Veronica Greene liquid lipsticks and what to look for in a liquid lipstick in general.
1. You only need ONE COAT
Liquid lipsticks have tremendous amount of pigment and you can achieve that opaque lipstick look with only one application. You can certainly use more coats if desired to achieve a more dramatic look, but typically it’s not at all necessary. (Suggested lipstick – Va Va Vixen)
2. They can come in more than one FORMULA
Some liquid lipsticks can have a lot of luster, while others can be matte. The formula is determined by the list of specific ingredients and how they are mixed. The end result is either lots of shine for glamor or a matte texture for a very sophisticated look.
3. The COLORS can range from the softest and lightest, (such as our Sweet Whisper and Rose Garden) to dramatic and glamorous (such as Rock a Fuschia and Coral Rush). Since the base formula for liquid lipsticks is typically preset, it is the added pigment that determines the actual color. Since pigment can range from the lightest rose to deepest blackberry, the liquid lipstick color possibilities are endless.
4. Liquid lipsticks have AMAZING STAY POWER
This is one of the most frequently asked questions that we received about the Veronica Greene liquid lipsticks. Due to there high pigment content you can expect your lips to retain the color day into night. Even when the luster of the lipstick is faded, the color will still be on your pout.
5. Liquid lipsticks can be LAYERED, creating a very unique look
These lipsticks glide on with a lot of pigment, but a lighter look can be achieved by blotting the lips with a tissue. This way your lips will appear to have a stain rather than lipstick. (Suggested lipstick – Sweet Whisper)
6. APPLYING liquid lipstick
The best way to apply is to cover your entire bottom lip first. With Veronica Greene wand it’s very easy, because the wand is flat and has a very precise edge that will make the application more accurate. Afterwards, blot the lips together, then fill in cupid’s bow and any remaining areas. (Suggested lipstick – Coral Rush)
7. The matte formulas of liquid lipsticks are perfect for KISSING
The color in the matte formula is rich, but once it sets on your lips it’s perfect for some intense kissing as the color won’t smudge onto your partner. (Suggested lipstick – Rose Garden and Rock a Fuschia)
8. They will keep the desired SHAPE on your lips
Traditional lipsticks have a tendency to run down your face with rising temperatures. Liquid lipsticks are great at retaining their texture and will stay firmly on your lips in exactly the shape that you outlined.
9. Watch out for MISTAKES!
Since liquid lipsticks are formulated to stay on your lips all day, there is very little leeway for coloring outside the lines. If you make a mistake you will only have a short amount of time to fix it. We suggest taking a cotton swab (Q-tip), dipping it into a liquid make up remover and gently erasing the extra lipstick. Then use a tissue to blot away the make-up remover. (Suggested lipstick – Rock a Fuschia)