Pregnancy is no casual affair. It is the time when women are vulnerable to morning sickness, lower immunity and dreaded hormonal changes. All of them directly affect oral health. Dental issues at any time are hardly appealing, but should be avoided if at all possible during pregnancy. Here’s what you need to know about your oral health and pregnancy, and what you can do to prevent any problems.
Oral Health and Pregnancy: How Pregnancy Affects Your Teeth and Your Teeth Affect Your Pregnancy
Pregnancy and Gum Disease
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy are generally attributed as the cause. Hormones decrease the body’s response to plaque and ultimately lead to periodontal problems. Studies show that about 40 percent of women suffer from periodontal diseases during pregnancy.
- African-American women are the most prone.
- Smokers are more likely to develop periodontitis during pregnancy.
Periodontal Disease and Premature Birth
There is a link between periodontal diseases and premature birth. Studies show that about 18 out of every 100 premature births are due to maternal periodontal diseases. All evidence points to periodontal disease as a major factor for premature births.
Why is this bad? Premature birth can mean low birth weight and a host of other complications that could endanger a baby’s life. Cerebral palsy and loss of sight are just a few examples of these complications.
Morning Sickness can Damage Tooth Enamel
Not only is vomiting highly annoying when it’s regular, but it also has a strongly negative effect on certain aspects of dental health. Morning sickness is unavoidable, but it takes a toll on the mouth. Vomiting is basically a regurgitation of the contents of your stomach with strong acids. This acidic reflux coats the teeth, and when it is repetitive, can destroy the tooth enamel. And destroyed tooth enamel means cavities.
Cravings can Lead to Cavities
Pregnant women have cravings. This is true, and so is the fact that sugar somehow always wins the day. What presents a problem here is the effect sugar has on the teeth. This one is a no-brainer. Everyone knows how cavities come haunting when we overload on sugar. Cavities occur more during pregnancy, mostly because of hormones and eating more sugar.
What Could Happen to Your Teeth During Pregnancy
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Possibly one of the most commonly experienced pregnancy-related issues, gingivitis is caused by an exaggerated inflammatory response to dental plaque. This causes swelling of the gums and leads to bleeding. A history of gingivitis will increase susceptibility and exacerbation.
Mobility of Teeth
Another common manifestation, but one that needs no worrying, is tooth movement. The ligaments and bones supporting teeth may loosen due to hormonal changes and gum diseases, but teeth are usually not lost unless there is a history of frequent dental diseases.
Periodontitis
This one spells trouble and is usually the direct result of leaving gingivitis untreated. Bacteria stick to the surfaces of teeth and release bacterial toxins. That leads to infection, loose teeth, and loss of bone.
Pregnancy Tumors
The name may sound scary, but this is not a cause for worry. Pregnancy tumors are raspberry-shaped growths between the teeth that occur due to inflammatory changes and usually disappear once the baby is born. About 5 percent of pregnant women manifest these tumors, also called pyogenic granuloma.
Dental Cavities
Cavities are most often the result of lack of dental care, and it is the same in pregnancy. Cravings, excessive consumption of sugary foods and increased oral acidity can lead to cavities. Poor attention to proper oral care doesn’t help either.
Dental Erosion
Morning sickness may result in erosion of tooth enamel with constant reflux and acidity.
How to Protect Your Teeth During Pregnancy
All these problems don’t have to affect pregnant women if they take preventive action and seek out appropriate treatment. To protect your oral health during pregnancy here are some things you can do:
- Visit the dentist. Frequent visits to the dentist are always important, but even more so during pregnancy. Even though not all dental procedures can be performed during the first and third trimesters, these visits will help keep dental health in check.
- Rinse your mouth with salty water to help with irritation from pregnancy gingivitis.
- If pregnancy tumors cause trouble or severe pain and bleeding, then excision can be explored as an option.
- Use fluoride toothpastes for stronger teeth and baking soda rinses to neutralize the acidity caused by vomiting.
- Switch to fruits if sweet cravings are insatiable as a way to avoid cavities. Regular brushing, flossing and rinsing are essential.
- If you have a visit scheduled, let your dentist know if you are or might be pregnant. This helps in determining treatment procedures, choosing medications and avoiding or limiting the use of X-rays.
- To help avoid vomiting from a gag reflux, use a brush with a smaller head, focus on breathing or switch to a different toothpaste if a particular one bothers you. Teeth should be brushed an hour after vomiting to prevent scratching the enamel.
- Increase your calcium intake during pregnancy through foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. This will supplement the natural loss of calcium and fortify both mother and baby.
- Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D, which is essential for the utilization of calcium in the body. It can be obtained from foods such as cheese, salmon and eggs.
- Maintain a strict oral health care regimen. This will always be the best advice to keep most dental problems at bay.
Pregnancy is a period when the body experiences a lot of confusing changes. It helps if the mother-to-be is ready to have a safe, happy and healthy pregnancy. Oral health is an aspect that needs just as much attention as the rest of the body’s general health during pregnancy. A healthy mouth during pregnancy is a definite bonus to enjoy with a little effort and care.