Morning sickness affects many women during pregnancy. This common condition can make it very difficult to sit through a simple dental checkup, as having things inside the mouth can easily trigger the gag reflex when you are feeling nauseous. However, dental checkups during pregnancy are important. Here are a few tips to help you work around your morning sickness so you can see your dentist.

1. Wait Until the Second Trimester

For most women, morning sickness reduces significantly after the first trimester. If you have no significant dental pain, you can safely delay a regular checkup until you reach the three-month mark of your pregnancy, when you should be feeling better.

Note that if you need urgent dental treatment, then delay your appointments is not a good idea. Decay can spread and cause more serious problems. Instead, work with your dentist to find a solution that allows you to get timely treatment.

2. Time Appointments Carefully

The most common time of day to feel pregnancy-related nausea is in the morning. However, some women feel worse during the afternoon or evening. Pay attention to how your symptoms change during the day so you can schedule an appointment at a time when you are likely to be feeling well.

3. Eat and Drink Anti-Nausea Foods

Nausea can destroy your appetite, but eating something simple can actually make you feel better. Many women find that dry crackers or plain toast help to settle their stomachs. Another option is ginger tea, which has traditionally been used as a remedy for nausea. Avoid greasy foods and dairy, which can make nausea worse.

4. Ask Your Dentist For Accommodations

There are various things that your dentist can do to make dental treatments more tolerable when you are suffering from morning sickness. For example, many women feel better if the dentist keeps the chair more upright instead of reclining it all the way back.

You can also ask your dentist to break up a treatment session so that you can sip water or walk around to help nausea subside. Agree on a hand signal that you can use to let your dentist know that you need a break.

5. See Your Doctor

Certain medications can help to combat morning sickness. Explain the problem to your doctor so they can prescribe something to help you. You might need to take these medications every day, or just on the day of your dental appointment, depending on the severity of your symptoms.

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