Pregnancy
When new life begins to stir inside… when a little heartbeat is heard for the first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone,” a mother’s delight begins.
Congratulations on embarking on this exciting new chapter of your life! During pregnancy, you have a lot on your mind, but don’t forget about your teeth and gums. It’s easy to overlook your mouth during pregnancy, but it can actually exacerbate several dental issues.
It’s critical to tell your dentist about any past miscarriages, cramping, or spotting. This necessitates consulting with an obstetrician before beginning dental therapy.
Nutritional guidance and strict plaque control techniques are essential for optimal dental hygiene.
Brushing and flossing are also beneficial to your overall health, and if your mouth is healthy, your baby’s mouth will be as well.
Healthy Habits
Oral hygiene is one of the numerous duties that come with being pregnant. Routine dental appointments are safe for most pregnant women, but let your dentist know what month you are in when scheduling your appointment. If you are pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy or have another medical problem, your dentist and physician may advise you to postpone treatment. If your prescriptions have changed or if you’ve gotten any specific advise from your doctor, make sure to inform your dentist. The advantages of getting dental treatment while pregnant greatly outweigh the hazards. Any changes in your mouth, such as swelling, redness, or bleeding, should be reported to your dentist.
During pregnancy, here are some tips for keeping your mouth healthy:
- Brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride-containing toothpaste, according to the IDA.
- Floss between your teeth at least once a day.
- Consume a well-balanced diet. If you do snack, keep it to a minimum.
- Regularly visit your dentist for a professional cleaning and examination.
- If you’re having trouble controlling plaque, your dentist may suggest washing with an antibacterial mouth rinse at night.
- Try washing with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water if you experience morning sickness and are vomiting regularly. If at all possible, avoid brushing your teeth just after vomiting. When stomach acids come into touch with teeth on a regular basis, erosion can occur, causing tooth enamel to erode away.
- Avoid smoking, drinking, and using drugs.
- Maintain a Stress-Free Lifestyle: The key to excellent health is to be happy, serene, and content.
Nutrition Tips for Pregnancy
A pregnant mother eats for two,her baby and herself.
Did you know that during the third and sixth months of pregnancy, a baby’s teeth begin to develop?
As a result, making wise dietary choices today can help your child have a happy and healthy smile for the rest of his or her life. According to the IDA, you’ll need a lot of nutrients during your pregnancy, including vitamins A, B, C, and D, protein, calcium, and phosphorous.
During pregnancy, here is a list of things to keep in mind:
- Consume a wide range of healthful foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole-grain cereals, breads, and crackers, as well as dairy products such as milk, cheese, cottage cheese, and unsweetened yoghurt.
- Avoid high-sugar foods like sweets, cookies, cake, and dried fruit, as well as high-sugar liquids like juice, fruit-flavored drinks, and soft drinks.
- Snack on low-sugar items such as fruits, vegetables, and unsweetened yoghurt.
- To choose low-sugar foods, read the nutritional information on food packages.
- If nausea is a problem for you, try eating small portions of healthful meals throughout the day.
- Instead of juice, fruit-flavored drinks, or soft drinks, consume water or milk.
- Throughout the day, especially between meals and snacks, drink plenty of water.
- Get 600 mcg of folic acid every day throughout your pregnancy to lower the chance of birth abnormalities. Take a folic acid supplement and eat folate-rich foods like asparagus, broccoli, and leafy green vegetables like lettuce and spinach, as well as legumes (beans, peas, lentils), papaya, tomato juice, oranges or orange juice, strawberries, melons, and bananas. folic acid-fortified grain products (breads, cereals, cornmeal, flour, pasta, white rice.)
- Deficiency in these nutrients has a variety of effects on tooth development:
- Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are all essential minerals.
- The mineralization of the tooth’s hard structure is less.
- Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found in Enamel formation is reduced.
- In an acidic environment, Flouride causes increased tooth demineralization.
- Fluorosis is caused by an excess of flouride in the body.
Concerns Unique To You
If you’re expecting a child, tell your dentist. Dental treatments should be avoided as much as possible during the first trimester and the second half of the third trimester as a precaution. This is a key moment in the baby’s development, and it’s simply best to avoid exposing the mother to procedures that could affect the baby’s development in any manner.
Routine dental treatment, on the other hand, can be received during the second trimester. All dental operations that aren’t absolutely necessary should be postponed until after the baby is born.
Tell your dentist about all of the medications you’re taking, including any prescriptions or prenatal vitamins your doctor has prescribed, as well as any specific medical advise your doctor has given you. Based on this information, your dentist may need to change your dental treatment plan.
Certain medicines, such as tetracycline, can harm your child’s tooth growth and should not be taken during pregnancy.
You should not postpone your dental visit just because you are pregnant, according to the IDA. Regular periodontal (gum) checks are more vital now than ever before since pregnancy causes hormonal changes that raise your risk of periodontal disease and bleeding gums — a condition known as pregnant gingivitis.
Pay close attention to any changes in your gums when you’re pregnant. If you experience any gum discomfort, bleeding, or swelling during your pregnancy, see your dentist or periodontist as soon as possible.
Problems with Oral Health During Pregnancy:
Gingivitis During Pregnancy
Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can have an impact on your mouth. For example, some women develop “pregnancy gingivitis,” which is a gum infection that can cause swelling and pain.
When you clean or floss your teeth, your gums may bleed a little. Gingivitis, if left untreated, can progress to more serious forms of gum disease. To avoid this, your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings.
Medications
To make you more comfortable before and after dental treatment, several medicines can be utilised. Any prescription or over-the-counter medication you’re taking should be disclosed to your dentist. This information will assist your dentist in determining what type of medication, if any, will be given for you. Your dentist can work with your doctor to identify which medications, such as pain relievers or antibiotics, are safe to take during pregnancy. Consult your dentist and physician if you have any concerns. Both of them are worried about you and your child.
X-Rays
If you have a dental emergency or need to diagnose a dental disease, you may need an X-ray. Although dental X-rays emit very little radiation, your dentist or hygienist will cover you with a leaded apron to reduce abdominal exposure. Your dentist will also place a leaded thyroid collar around your neck to protect your thyroid from radiation.
Pregnancy Tumors
Overgrowths of tissue known as “pregnancy tumours” form on the gums in some women, most commonly during the second trimester. These non-cancerous growths or swellings are most commonly observed between the teeth and are thought to be caused by too much plaque. They bleed easily and have a reddish-purple, raw-appearing raspberry hue. They normally go away after your kid is delivered, but if you’re worried, ask your dentist about having them removed. Consult your dentist if you detect any changes in your mouth throughout your pregnancy, such as pregnancy tumours.
Ptylism/Sialorrhea
Excessive saliva secretion, also known as ptylism or sialorrhea, is a very uncommon occurrence in pregnant women. It normally starts about two to three weeks into pregnancy and subsides by the end of the first trimester. It may last till the day of delivery in some cases.
Caries
Pregnancy does not appear to play a role in the development of caries, according to clinical investigations. Pregnancy induces an increase in appetite and often a need for strange meals, which might lead to an increase in local cariogenic variables. If the cravings are for cariogenic foods, the pregnant woman’s caries risk may increase.
Acid erosion of the teeth (perimylolysis)
Acid erosion of the teeth is caused by frequent vomiting from morning sickness or esophageal reflux. The enamel on the rear of the front teeth is eroded as a result of this. So that stomach acids do not stay in the mouth, women can be encouraged to rinse their mouths with water soon after vomiting.
Tooth mobility
In a pregnant woman, generalised tooth motion is possible. The degree of looseness of a tooth is known as tooth mobility. This alteration is most likely connected to the severity of periodontal disease, which disrupts the gum and bone attachment to the tooth. After delivery, this condition normally improves.
Xerostomia
Some pregnant women experience dry mouth. Hormonal changes connected with pregnancy could be one reason. Drinking more water, sugarless confectionery, and chewing gum on a regular basis may assist to reduce this condition.
