How Pregnancy Affects Your Teeth (And How To Keep Your Smile Healthy)
Pregnancy can cause problems with your teeth, so give them extra care when you are expecting.
While you are pregnant you are dealing with morning sickness, nausea and tiredness, plus you are busy getting clothes for your baby, diapers, a cot, thinking about finances ... and so many more things. With so much to think about, from stretch marks to nutrition, it's easy to neglect your teeth when you are pregnant.
But what many women do not realise is that the hormones flooding your body during pregnancy – particularly progesterone – can cause your teeth to be more sensitive to plaque. And this can raise your risk of gum disease and even tooth loss. In the past, there was nothing much you could do about this problem – which is why there are old sayings like "A woman loses a tooth for every child".
The further you go in your pregnancy, the more vulnerable your gums become to the plaque and bacteria that are naturally in your mouth. Dentist Dr Robert Hirsch explains, " Especially in the last trimester, if you have a little bit of plaque, your teeth and gums can react badly. They can become red, inflamed, and bleed when you brush your teeth. When people see that blood it can put them off brushing, and the plaque gets worse."
If gum inflammation is not treated properly it can cause the more severe problem of periodontitis, or gum disease. "This destroys the gum and teeth, and can also damage the underlying bone in the jaw," explains Dr Hirsch. "And if women have this gum disease problem during pregnancy there is some evidence that they can also end up with premature birth and a baby with lower birth weight. Periodontitis has also been linked to a higher risk of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes."
Morning sickness can be hard on your teeth during pregnancy. "If you are throwing up, the gastric acids can make your teeth more sensitive and dissolve the enamel" explains Dr Hirsch. And if you are trying to satisfy pregnancy food cravings with sweet or sticky foods you can increase your risk of plaque and decay."
if you vomit during your pregnancy, rinse your mouth with water. Do not brush your teeth for 30 minutes, because the acid in the vomit softens the tooth enamel and brushing will only cause further damage.
Another possible problem is what's called a pregnancy tumor. These swellings usually happen in the last trimester and are usually benign, not cancer. They grow when an area of the gum begins to grow an extra tooth, for no apparent reason, The welling can affect your ability to bite - but it can be easily managed by a dental surgeon or dental specialist.