Free Dental Care

Freebies are one benefit to pregnancy and hopefully you will have already received some lovely samples for both you and baby, but one not to ignore is e free dental care. But why do expectant mum’s receive free dental care? Unfortunately, with all those pregnancy hormones, although essential for growing a baby, they can lead to mild gum disease, known as gingivitis (no it has nothing to do with all those ginger biscuits you consumed to deal with morning sickness) and other teeth and gum issues. In addition, if you suffered from morning sickness then your teeth will have been exposed to more acid which can lead to tooth decay. What can you do to help your teeth? Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, ideally first thing in the morning, floss and take advantage of those free visits to your NHS dental surgery and it should be enough to keep everything in check. The free dental care doesn’t stop once baby arrives either, but continues for a year after they are born. To claim you will need either a MATB1 certificate or a valid prescription maternity exemption form – speak to your midwife if you haven’t received these.