What Smoking Really Does During Pregnancy

You might know that smoking is bad during pregnancy. Here’s what you may not know.

When you smoke during pregnancy, harmful chemicals can reach your baby through your blood. * This can lower your baby’s oxygen and make it harder for your baby to grow well. Babies may be born too early or too small.*

Smoking can also hurt your teeth and gums by raising the risk of gum disease.* If left untreated, gum disease is an infection that can affect both the mother and baby's health.

Quitting smoking is not easy. Many people try more than once before they quit for good. But there is hope. Quitting at any time during pregnancy can help your baby grow healthier and stronger. The earlier you quit the better, but quitting at any time helps.*

Small steps can help you quit:

Talk to your doctor or dentist about ways to quit
Stay away from places where people smoke
Keep your hands busy with a stress ball
Try chewing sugar-free gum
Ask friends and family for support
Use free resources such as 800-QUIT-NOW or Smokefree.gov

Don’t forget to keep up with dental visits during pregnancy. Regular dental visits are safe for pregnant women and help keep your mouth healthy. A healthy mouth helps support a healthy pregnancy.*

DentaQuest is here to help pregnant members and their babies stay healthy and smiling.

Sources

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking During Pregnancy.

* American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation During Pregnancy.

* American Dental Association. Pregnancy and Oral Health.

* American Dental Association. Periodontal (Gum) Disease and Pregnancy.