Dental care during pregnancy is extremely essential. Because due to the increase of hormone levels your mouth can be more vulnerable to dental problems from plaque and bacteria. This pregnancy period increases the risk of certain dental health problems. As a result, that may lead to pregnancy compilations like premature birth.
If you feel worried about your dental health, visiting doctor for regular dental check-ups during pregnancy helps you lower the risk of dental problems.
How does dental health affect your pregnancy?
Dental health is the complete health of your mouth, teeth and gums. It is as important as your overall health. And being pregnant, prenatal care is very essential.
However, pregnancy can increase the risk of dental health problems. Similarly, these problems can affect your pregnancy. According to medical studies, there exists a link between gum disease and premature birth. This type of birth happens too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Also, babies born with premature birth may have more health problems.
So, taking good dental care during pregnancy can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Affect of Pregnancy on your dental health
Dental care during pregnancy is essential. Because changes in your body during pregnancy can affect your teeth and gums.
- Hormones like progesterone and estrogen can increase in higher-level during pregnancy. As a result, there are chances to occur from certain dental health problems.
- Change in food habits can also affect your dental health.
- During the period of pregnancy, many women do not brush and floss their teeth like before. Because for some women, brushing and flossing may cause Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach). So, this can also affect your dental health.
Apart from these, there are some more dental problems associated with pregnancy including,
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Gingivitis is redness and swelling of the gums. This is one of the most common oral problems that are caused in the period of pregnancy. Gingivitis usually occurs in the first trimester (first 12 weeks of pregnancy). As per the studies, 60-75% of pregnant women have gingivitis. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis include
- Bleeding of the gums.
- Red and tenderness in the gums.
- Swelling of the gums.
- Shiny gums.
Good dental care during pregnancy could also be important to the fetus. Research says that the advanced stage of gum disease and periodontitis can cause premature birth and low birth weight for a child.
Erosion of Tooth
If you are experiencing vomiting from morning sickness, your teeth may be exposed to too much of stomach acid. The increase in the amount of acid can harm the enamel of your teeth. Morning sickness usually called nausea or vomiting happens in the first few months of pregnancy. To get rid of this you can balance the acid present in your mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda with water before brushing. Hence this can minimize the erosion.
Pregnancy tumours
Pregnancy tumours are also called a pyogenic granuloma. What you need to know about these are – these tumours are not cancer. They are just lymph’s that occur on gums and also usually between teeth. Pregnancy tumours look red and can bleed easily. Having too much of plaque on the teeth can lead to these tumours. In general, these tumours vanish once after giving birth. In rare cases, you need to consult the doctor to remove them. This is why dental care during pregnancy is important.
Cavities and Loosed teeth
Cavities are small damaged areas on the surface of the teeth. Pregnancy is more likely to have cavities. This bacteria can also cause cavities to your child’s teeth later. Also, the hormones progesterone and estrogen loosen the tissues and bones in your mouth. This results in loose teeth.
Tips for Dental care during pregnancy
Here are some of the tips on how to take dental care during pregnancy
- Visit your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings to maintain good oral hygiene.
- Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. This removes plaque and food particles in between the teeth.
- Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse to prevent gingivitis.
- Maintain a nutritious diet to maintain oral health and overall health throughout the pregnancy.