Pregnancy and Oral Health: Keeping Your Sanity and Teeth in Tact

02/08/2016

Pregnancy and Oral Health: Keeping Your Sanity and Teeth in Tact

Pregnancy is the pinnacle of joy in a woman’s life. Having a baby is an elaborate orchestra which takes about 9 months of preparation. While it does bring so much happiness, it is not without discomfort for a couple, especially for the pregnant mother. As the mother advances through her pregnancy, she will experience many discomforts along with the changes in her body. A growing tummy is the most obvious manifestation, but a lot of people do not realise that the mother will also have to keep up with her calcium supplement because it is needed in the baby’s bone formation.

As the baby grows, the bones and teeth of the mother will also deteriorate if not checked. She will have an increased level of the hormone called progesterone. It can increase up to 10 times its usual level when she is not pregnant and this will increase the probability of bacterial growth in her body.

Knowing the Odds, Going Beyond the Pound of Cure

Before you know how to prevent any possible dangers, it is first best to identify what those possible dangers are so a pregnant woman and her family will know what to do. Let’s identify some of those:

1. Pregnancy gingivitis can occur during pregnancy. She can experience gum bleeding due to sensitivity of the gums. Some areas of her mouth will be red and extra sensitive especially when brushing the teeth vigorously. Choosing a toothbrush with very soft bristles can help a lot.  It also helps to use soft strokes when brushing the teeth.
2. What happens when she has cavities and she suddenly experiences recurring toothache? She needs to consult a dentist as soon as possible. Bear in mind though that the dentist may only recommend the simplest painkiller, and definitely no anti-biotics or tooth extraction. So again, she must refrain from eating any sweets during pregnancy.

Good oral health during pregnancy will keep a woman happy even after pregnancy, but it takes a lot of self-discipline to stay away from cavity-forming-foods during this period. A pregnant woman will have a lot more reason to smile when she has given birth. With this in mind, just remember that knowing all the odds will always go beyond a pound of cure.

Feel free to get in touch with our dental professionals for appropriate guidelines on maintaining good oral health during pregnancy.