Taking care of your oral health during pregnancy

Pregnancy is an extraordinary period during a woman’s life, characterized by complex physiological changes, which may unfavorably influence oral health. Simultaneously, oral health is critical to general wellbeing and overall health. Preventive, diagnostic, and restorative dental treatment is safe all through Pregnancy.

A lot needs to be considered to ensure oral health doesn’t decline in pregnancy. During pregnancy, the dental health of women is much more crucial. Fortunately, if proper dental precautions are taken during pregnancy, loss of teeth and other dental problems can be avoided. Nevertheless, expectant mothers are known to confront tooth decay and gingival issues during Pregnancy.

Bad oral health during pregnancy can lead to the woman experiencing premature delivery, low birth weight baby, preeclampsia, gingival tissue ulcerations, pregnancy granuloma, gingivitis, and pregnancy tumors (epulis gravidarum), loose teeth, mouth dryness, and dental erosion. Also, gum problems and tooth decay can be induced directly or indirectly due to the changing hormone levels during pregnancy.

Here are a few examples worth taking note of:

1. During pregnancy, hormones like progesterone and estrogen increase in the body and escalate the risk of oral health problems.
2. As there is a higher chance of your food habits changing, changes in diet can affect dental health.
3. For some pregnant women, brushing and flossing may cause nausea, and they might start doing that less than when they weren’t pregnant.

1. Bad breath issues
2. Red, swollen, tender, or shiny gums that are tender and bleed easily
3. Toothache or other pain
4. Mouth sores or lumps on gums
5. Receding gums (when your gums pull away from your teeth, making the roots of teeth visible) or pus along your gum line (where your gums and teeth meet)
6. Red, swollen, tender, or shiny gums that are tender and bleed easily

If there’s a lot of pain and swelling, there may be an infection, and it’s important to call a dentist right away. Immediate action needs to be taken to help prevent adverse health consequences that might affect the pregnancy and be unsafe for the baby.

1. Let your dentist know if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, and what medications you have been taking if you are going through a high-risk pregnancy.
2. Brush thoroughly, twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste.
3. Daily flossing
4. Eat a balanced diet and snack in moderation.
5. Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleaning and checkup.
6. Consult your dentist if you need help controlling plaque. Your dentist may recommend an antimicrobial mouth rinse.
7. Protect the enamel of your teeth if you are suffering from morning sickness. You can try mixing a teaspoon of baking soda with water and rinsing for thirty seconds to stop stomach acid from attacking your teeth.

1. During pregnancy, if the mother has excessive bacterial growth in her mouth, through the gums, it can enter into the bloodstream and thereby travel to the uterus, triggering the production of chemicals called prostaglandins, which are suspected of inducing premature labor.
2. After a baby’s birth, the mother can potentially pass her bacteria to her newborn, called vertical transmission.

A new mother with oral health issues has a higher chance of passing aggressive and damaging bacteria to her newborn, causing the child to receive dental bacteria that could cause trouble later on. The recommendations listed above can help prevent this unfortunate outcome. And last but not least, regular dental visits should always be scheduled to address problems before they escalate.

Moms-to-be from the Grand Rapids, MI area, you have nothing to worry about as the excellent facility and service provided by Midtowne Smiles will cater to all your problems and make sure you have healthy oral care during pregnancy.

Dental checkups before and during pregnancy are crucial to treating dental problems early on. It is known that regular dental cleanings will keep the teeth and gums healthy. Head down to Midtowne Smiles for the best dental care. Call us today or complete our online appointment form. We will be happy to take care of your oral health as you take care of your pregnancy.