Dental care during pregnancy, what every pregnant woman should know about how you should take care of you teeth.
Good oral hygiene is important for pregnant women, as it can affect the health of their children. Pregnancy gingivitis is a common condition that can be prevented with regular brushing and flossing. If you have a dental emergency, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible.
Dental care before pregnancy
Photo by Greta Hoffman
Make an appointment with your dentist before getting pregnant. That way, you can get your teeth cleaned professionally, your gum tissue examined, and any dental health issues addressed before becoming pregnant.
Dental care during pregnancy
If you think that being pregnant has no relation whatsoever to other parts of your body, specifically your mouth, think again.
The reality is if you’re pregnant and have problems with your gums, it may even affect your baby. Researchers at the University of North Carolina showed that women with periodontal disease, i.e. serious gum disease, had a 7 times higher chance of having a premature birth or giving birth to a baby that is too small.
The reason behind this is that the bacteria that cause periodontal disease may enter the bloodstream through the mouth, travel to the uterus, and cause the production of prostaglandins, which in turn may lead to premature labor.
If that’s not reason enough to care for your teeth, especially while you’re pregnant though, check out the other conditions related to pregnancy, and what you can do to prevent them.
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Are you happy that you weren’t the kid who discovered she had gingivitis during a routine dental check in school? Well, say hello to pregnancy gingivitis!
Gingivitis, according to the American Pregnancy Association, is basically the inflammation of gums. The hormonal changes during pregnancy cause your gums to be more sensitive, and become swollen.
Hormonal changes also affect the body’s usual response to the bacteria that cause periodontal infections — thus resulting in the buildup of plaque on your teeth. This makes pregnant moms more prone to gingivitis.
How do you prevent pregnancy gingivitis?
- Brush and floss your teeth daily. Don’t ease up on these just because you’re pregnant!
- Have your routine teeth cleaning done early in your pregnancy.
- Avoid snacking on sugary food.
- If you find yourself constantly hungry during your pregnancy, go ahead and eat as often as you want — just make sure you brush and floss frequently too.
Pregnancy Tumors
Before you freak out and think this is some sort of cancer, relax. It’s not. A pregnancy tumor is actually a benign growth at your gum margin, and they commonly occur in the second trimester.
Pregnancy tumors are not dangerous and will disappear or shrink when you give birth. However, if having one bothers you or becomes a hindrance to your speech, you may see your dentist and get it removed.
How do you prevent pregnancy tumors?
- Brush your teeth at least twice daily with fluoride-containing toothpaste.
- Floss at least once a day.
- Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse.
How to treat tooth decay during pregnancy
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
Sugar and other food particles are more likely to linger between the teeth of expectant moms because they are generally hungry and eat a lot while pregnant.
Additionally, many pregnant women experience morning sickness and vomiting, which causes stomach acid and other partially digested food to travel back up to the mouth and lodge in the teeth, causing tooth decay.
Pregnant women also have greater levels of progesterone, a hormone that affects a range of tissues, including the gums in the soft palate.
Increased progesterone causes gum inflammation and easy bleeding, which can be painful for moms and make them scared to brush their teeth, resulting in tooth decay.
Pregnant women should see a dentist on a regular basis, because if problems like swollen gums or tooth decay go unnoticed during months 4-6 of pregnancy, it may be too late to correct them.
If a pregnant mother needs scaling or tooth extraction, which can cause significant, dangerous, and profuse bleeding, the dentist may postpone treatment until after the baby is born.
The dentist will decide on a case-by-case basis if extensive dental care is required. Because the blood arteries in almost every organ in the body enlarge during pregnancy to improve circulation, a pregnant mother’s gums become packed with blood.
As pregnant women may develop bleeding gums merely by brushing their teeth normally, the dentist will recommend brushing with softer bristles during pregnancy.
Tooth extraction during pregnancy
When it comes to tooth extractions during pregnancy, timing is everything. The American Pregnancy Association suggests scheduling any necessary dental work during the second trimester and postponing non-essential operations until after the baby is born.
If you have a significant dental emergency and need the tooth taken immediately soon, it doesn’t matter which trimester you’re in. Having an infected or badly damaged tooth pulled as soon as possible is better for you and your child than allowing it to fester in the mouth.
For your own and your baby’s health, it’s vital to pay attention to your teeth and gums during pregnancy, whether you need a tooth pulled, a root canal, or a simple cleaning. If you haven’t seen your dentist in a while, make an appointment today. While you’re at it, remember to practice good oral hygiene to keep your teeth and gums clean in between appointments.
Dental care during pregnancy: Dental fillings during pregnancy
Women who have dental fillings, extractions, or even root canals during their second trimester do not have a higher risk of birth difficulties, according to the Mayo Clinic website. The second trimester may also be more physically comfortable in terms of nausea and sitting on a chair.
It is not a smart idea to avoid your dentist when pregnant! Maintain your hygiene practices, and get advice from your dentist and doctor if you need dental work, such as a filling.
Dental care during pregnancy: Dental cleaning during pregnancy
Routine dental cleanings pose no risk to your child, so keep them in your routine. Too much plaque might cause sensitivity, which can be treated with a professional cleaning.
Cleaning can be used to treat pregnancy gingivitis. Because the risk of gingivitis is higher during pregnancy, your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings, such as every three months instead of every six months.
Plaque removal can also aid in the treatment of pregnancy tumors, which are noncancerous gum overgrowths. Simply be aware that the tumor may not go until after birth, which is perfectly normal.
To answer
Dental braces during pregnancy
If you are already undergoing orthodontic treatment, you can continue it during pregnancy. Due to hormonal changes, some pregnant women may experience swelling of the gums, which can sometimes cause irritation from brace wires and brackets. Your dentist might provide safe gels to help numb the pain.
In case of having new braces fitted during pregnancy, your dentist may recommend that you wait until after delivery.
This is because fitting braces require X-rays, which you want to avoid as much as possible during pregnancy. Also, you gain weight during pregnancy, which is likely to alter the shape of your face and mouth, and make adjusting and fitting braces more complicated.
Is dental anesthesia safe during pregnancy?
It is essential that you inform your dentist about your pregnancy so they can choose suitable anaesthetics and set appropriate levels. According to American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, use of local anaesthesia (lidocaine with or without epinephrine) is safe during pregnancy.
A study in the August 2015 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association followed a group of pregnant women who had procedures that used anesthetics like lidocaine shots and a group that did not.
The study showed these treatments were safe during pregnancy, as they cause no difference in the rate of miscarriages, birth defects, prematurity, or weight of the baby.According to study author Dr. Hagai,
“Our study identified no evidence to show that dental treatment with anesthetics is harmful during pregnancy. We aimed to determine if there was a significant risk associated with dental treatment with anesthesia and pregnancy outcomes. We did not find any such risk.”
Tips to remember when it comes to dental care during pregnancy
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
- As previously mentioned, use toothpaste with fluoride, which will prevent decay.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day. This will aid in the prevention of plaque formation and gum disease. Brush your teeth carefully with a gentle toothbrush. If you feel yourself gagging, wait until later in the day to clean your teeth, perhaps about lunchtime.
- Brushing your teeth is crucial, but flossing as part of your dental hygiene practice will boost its effectiveness. Flossing cleans the hard-to-reach spaces between your teeth, preventing plaque accumulation, dental decay, and gum disease.
- If morning sickness is hindering you from brushing your teeth, try rinsing your mouth out with mouthwash instead first. You might also want to consider switching to a blander-tasting toothpaste.
- Morning sickness is a frequent pregnant side effect that involves nausea and vomiting. Vomiting, on the other hand, might injure your teeth because the stomach acid that comes up with it is powerful enough to dissolve the enamel on your teeth. To protect your teeth and neutralize stomach acid, gargle with a glass of water and a tablespoon of baking soda. Do this numerous times during the day, especially if you have morning sickness.
More tips
- Although you may be tempted to indulge your sweet tooth, remember that it’s crucial to have a balanced diet. Your baby’s teeth will begin to develop 3 months into your pregnancy so make sure your diet contains food that has the essential minerals — like calcium — that will aid in the development of your baby’s teeth, gums, and even bones.
- Try to postpone dental procedures such as bleaching till after the delivery of your baby.
- Discuss your dental needs with your dentist to get the right advice. Contrary to popular belief, dental visits are perfectly safe and encouraged during pregnancy. This is because your oral health has an impact on your baby’s health. Pregnancy raises the risk of dental decay and gum disease, as previously indicated. Unfortunately, these illnesses and infections might harm your unborn child’s health or increase the risk of a premature birth. Make frequent dental appointments throughout your pregnancy to be safe.
Updates by Margaux Dolores and theAsianparent Singapore
Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.
