Oral Health Care During Pregnancy

Expecting a baby? Here’s why you should take extra care of your teeth and gums at this time.
It is a well established fact that everyone needs to see a dentist regularly, in order to help ensure that their teeth and gums are in good health. Usually this is every six months but may vary depending on the person and their situation. There are times too, when certain situations mean that you might need a little more help from one of our Acton dentists than you usually do. One of these situations is when you are expecting a child.
Pregnancy causes many changes to the body including hormonal changes and these can affect all areas of the body, including the oral cavity. Additional care may need to be taken during this time to avoid problems that are more likely to occur. In today’s blog, we will take a look at some of the problems that can arise and explain what you can do to prevent or manage them.
Gum disease
Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, problems such as inflamed or infected gums become more likely. As readers of this blog will be aware, this can eventually lead to periodontitis which can cause teeth to become loose, or even to fall out altogether. There is some evidence too that bacteria can enter the bloodstream from periodontal diseases and has been linked with issues such as heart disease. There is also some concern that this may affect the health of the unborn baby as well.
Taking care of your gums during pregnancy is very important. We do understand how tiring pregnancy might be but you should try to resist the temptation to fall into bed at night without brushing your teeth. Doing this significantly increases the risk of gum disease occurring. Make sure that you brush your teeth well and also use dental floss. If you don’t currently see a hygienist and have become pregnant, please contact the hygienist at the Acton Vale Dental Centre for an appointment. This is a great way of helping to prevent or manage any gum health issues that might arise.
Enamel Erosion
Worn down tooth enamel is a real problem. It not only creates a rough surface that becomes more easily stained, but also removes some of the protection for the softer inner part of the tooth. One common symptom of enamel erosion is when your teeth become more sensitive. Without treatment, the risk of tooth decay or even root canal infections are increased.
This can particularly be a problem if you suffer from morning sickness when you are pregnant. Vomiting causes stomach acids to come into contact with your teeth. This is highly acidic and greatly increases the risk of the tooth enamel becoming eroded.
While you would probably ideally wish to prevent vomiting, this may not be possible, but there are a few things you can do to help protect the tooth enamel. These include:
- Rinse your mouth with water after being sick. This will help to remove some of the acidity
- Don’t brush your teeth to remove the taste straight away. If possible, wait for 30 minutes for the enamel to re-harden
- Chew sugar free gum. This will help not only to freshen your mouth, but also improves saliva flow which will help wash away some of the acidity.
Some women may have food carvings that can damage the enamel too. Anything that is high in sugar or acids, including some fruits, should be eaten in moderation only.
Cavities
As mentioned above, worn enamel increases the risk of tooth decay and this is something that you should monitor during your pregnancy, supported by your local Acton dentist too, of course.
Diets can change dramatically when you are pregnant, and while some cravings can be a little unusual, some can also be harmful for your teeth. Foods that are high in sugar may help you to manage some of your symptoms and keep you going when you feel very tired but they also increase the risk of cavities forming in your teeth. This, combined with the lack of energy to brush your teeth well can present a real problem. Your dentist may recommend that you visit them more frequently during your pregnancy to help monitor the health of your teeth and gums.
Even if you can’t control your craving for sweet things, do make sure to brush your teeth well, use dental floss and stay well hydrated to flush some of the sugar away and also help keep your gums healthy.
If you are expecting a child, you should let your dentist know. X-rays are generally best avoided while you are pregnant and some non-urgent treatments may also need to be postponed. It will also help them to monitor your oral health more effectively.
If you are pregnant and would like to have an oral health check up with one of the dentists at the Acton Vale Dental Centre, you can contact us to make an appointment through our website or by calling us on 020 8749 3267.