Nurturing Maternal and Infant Well-Being-Nurturing Maternal and Infant Well-Being

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Joy Lance’s webinar, <strong>“Nurturing Maternal and Infant Wellbeing,”</strong> explains how dental professionals can support oral health during pregnancy and early childhood.

Pregnancy-related hormonal and physical changes can increase the risk of gingivitis, periodontal disease, cavities, enamel erosion, dry mouth, and sleep-disordered breathing. Lance recommends individualized guidance on nutrition, oral hygiene, managing nausea and reflux, maintaining regular dental visits, and monitoring sleep. She also highlights postpartum concerns, especially dry mouth and possible clenching or bruxism.

The presentation then explores infant feeding and oral development. Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding involve different oral muscle patterns, and feeding difficulties may be linked to issues such as restricted tongue movement, muscle weakness, or poor coordination. Warning signs can include clicking, milk leaking from the mouth, shallow latch, reflux, prolonged or tiring feeds, difficulty finishing feeds, and maternal nipple pain. Dental teams can screen for concerns and collaborate with pediatricians, lactation consultants, feeding therapists, and other providers.

Lance also discusses how oral ties, mouth breathing, and prolonged pacifier or thumb sucking may affect feeding, oral function, palate development, and dental alignment. She encourages early, ongoing assessment and parent education, including guidance on pacifier weaning and infant dental visits. In response to questions, she recommends an initial dental visit by age one at the latest, while noting that earlier visits can support screening and anticipatory guidance.

Keywords

maternal oral health

pregnancy gingivitis

infant feeding

breastfeeding assessment

oral development

periodontal disease

pacifier weaning

early dental visit

sleep-disordered breathing

bruxism