Nursing and Dental Sedation - What You Need To Know
We are often asked by pregnant and nursing people if they can still receive dental care while pregnant or nursing. OF COURSE! Not only is it just “ok,” but it’s also important! Today we have guest blogger Dr. Amanda Tavoularis, who has answered a few common questions about dental care while nursing. Thank you, Dr. Tavoularis!
by Dr. Amanda Tavoularis* (dentably.com)
When you’re nursing, it’s important to monitor what you put into your body. What you take in can potentially be passed to your child, and that’s a scary thought for many people. One piece that has a lot of misinformation is dental sedation and whether it’s safe during pregnancy. Putting drugs into your body is always a place to pause, but it’s important to understand what is safe and what is not. I’ve worked as a dentist for over 20 years, and have helped educate people on their oral health, including interactions between sedation and lactation. Let’s take a look at what dental sedation is, and what you need to know when undergoing it while nursing.
The three big things that most nursing parents ask in regards to dental sedation are:
- Is it safe for me and my baby?
- Will it interrupt my feeding schedule?
- Will it affect my milk supply?
We’ll take a look at each one of these points, and answer the pressing questions that many new parents have about this important aspect of their dental health.
Is Dental Sedation Safe While Breastfeeding?
The first big question is whether dental sedation is safe at all during lactation. In the majority of cases, the answer is yes, most types of sedative used are out of your system quickly and won’t be passed onto your child through your milk. This means that the most popular sedative drugs your dentist might use are perfectly safe to use while nursing, and will have no effect on the health of your child.
Nitrous oxide for example, a commonly used sedative, is virtually insoluble in the bloodstream and extremely unlikely to be passed to your child. It is rapidly eliminated by your body, and poses little risk for a nursing parent or the child. You won’t be passing it on to your baby through your milk.
Conscious sedation, usually delivered by an IV for more invasive surgery like wisdom teeth removal, is also considered to be safe. These drugs are rarely transferred to breast milk, or do so in such small quantities as to not be a cause for concern. Overall, the majority of sedatives used today for dental procedures are safe for nursing parents to take.
Will it Interrupt My Feeding Schedule?
Other than not being able to feed during the procedure, no, most sedatives will not disrupt your feeding schedule. You’ll be able to feed after receiving them as soon as you feel strong enough to do so. The drugs are rapidly eliminated from your body, so it’s safe to feed shortly after without fear of passing them to your child. It’s also recommended to do so right before the procedure, that way you’re not worrying about your child during the procedure.
Can Sedatives Affect My Milk Supply?
As mentioned above, most sedatives are not transferred to your milk or do so in very small quantities. This means it will not have any adverse effect on your milk supply, and you can go on feeding your baby. As mentioned above, you don’t need to skip a beat and can go on feeding shortly after the procedure is completed.
As always, if in doubt speak with your dentist. They will be happy to go over your options, and provide a treatment plan that is safe for both you and your baby. With all the above in mind, you can now go confidently to your next appointment without fear of harming your child. Don’t let nursing be an excuse to let your dental health lapse, it can seem hard at times but make sure you’re looking after yourself as well.
*edited by T. Mitchell for gender neutral descriptions