21 Jul Pregnancy and Oral Health

Pregnancy & Teeth: Dental Problems & Oral Care for Pregnant Women

Pregnancy and Teeth: Dental Problems and Oral Care for Pregnant Women

You may have heard that “a woman loses one teeth with every pregnancy”. Is there really a connection between pregnancy and teeth?

Well, that is just a myth.

However, women do experience changes in their oral health during their pregnancy. It is due to the changes in the hormone levels in the body, which is common during pregnancy. Below we explain the kind of oral health issues you may face during pregnancy and how you can keep your teeth and gums healthy during that period.

Dental Problem: Bleeding gums during pregnancy

Some women experience swollen and bleeding gums during pregnancy. Some may simply experience reddening of gums and bleeding only when they brush their teeth.

The condition is referred to as Pregnancy Gingivitis, which can affect women as early as in their second month of pregnancy. The best way to fight the condition is to maintain perfect oral hygiene. That is:

• Brush your teeth twice every day
• Floss your teeth
• Brush for at least 2 minutes every time
• Use antimicrobial mouthwash to prevent inflammation; talk to your dentist about the best type of mouthwash for you

Read more about Tooth Decay and Gum Disease during Pregnancy here.

Dental Problem: Pregnancy granuloma

Around 2 to 10 per cent of pregnant women are affected by this condition. Also known as pregnancy tumour, this condition involves in a growth in the gums, which can cause severe discomfort.

Mind that these tumours are not cancerous or dangerous in any way. They are red nodules, which are usually found in the upper gum line, during the second trimester of your pregnancy. They can also occur in other parts of the mouth.

So what exactly causes them?  Poor oral hygiene.

In addition to these, pregnant women may often experience dry mouth due to dehydration, excessive saliva secretion that is caused when they experience nausea, and tooth erosion, due to frequent vomiting.

Dental Health Care during Pregnancy

Oral health is as important as overall health during pregnancy. It is important to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy when you are pregnant, as poor oral hygiene can result in other health problems.

To ensure complete oral care during pregnancy, we recommend the following:

• Brush twice a day, for at least 2 minutes each time – if you have issues cleaning out the plaque, we can help!
• Avoid drinking cold or hot drinks, and avoid eating sugary foods too often. Avoid fizzy drinks completely
• Avoid acidic foods – snack on nuts, fruits and so on that have low acidic content
• Avoid using mouthwashes that contain alcohol
• Avoid smoking

Remember that if you have a healthy mouth, your child is more likely to be born with a healthy mouth.