Congratulations! You have just found out that yourself or your partner are expecting a baby. The next few months will be filled with joy (and no small amount of anxiety) as the pregnancy progresses.
With the coming months, you or your partner will have to go to an array of appointments with doctors, nurses, and midwives, so the last person you’re probably thinking about having to pay a visit to is your dentist. However, when you or your partner are pregnant, good oral health is incredibly important and not just to help with that pregnancy glow!
So, this article will walk you through why dental care in pregnancy is important and how ignoring it have long term consequences for you, or your partner, and your baby.
Pregnancy Gingivitis
During pregnancy, hormones go wild, and it can lead to hormonal fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen. Both make the gums more sensitive and prone to becoming inflamed. This has its own name, and it is known as pregnancy gingivitis, which is where, during those nine months, the gums can become swollen, red, and bleed. This can lead to more serious forms of gum diseases, like periodontitis, and if it is not treated during pregnancy, once the baby has been born, it can lead to tooth loss and bone erosion. So, please make sure you look into dental services in Wandsworth as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test!
Preterm Birth
Numerous studies have found an unfortunate link between gum disease throughout pregnancy and preterm birth, pregnancy complications, and low birth weight. In simple terms, the bacteria from this gum infection can enter the bloodstream and will affect the placenta. This can lead to complications, with one of the most notable ones being placental abruption. That’s incredibly serious and can be prevented with a simple dental check-up, so book an appointment with your dental team.
Morning Sickness
Some women state that it shouldn’t be called morning sickness, as it can happen all through the day! However, sickness during pregnancy exposes the teeth to stomach acids, and, if you or your partner are suffering from severe morning sickness, this can cause enamel erosion. The long-term result of that is an increased risk of cavities. Talk to your dentist about getting antibacterial mouthwash, which is also high in fluoride for the duration of this stage of the pregnancy, to protect your teeth. For example, a Bellevue dentist can offer tailored advice to help you manage your oral health during pregnancy, so that’s why you must regularly visit your dentist.
Better Overall Health
Being pregnant puts an enormous strain on the body, and the last thing you or your partner want is to experience dental issues at such a stressful time. Good oral hygiene is a core part of maintaining your overall health, and toothaches or untreated dental infections during pregnancy can cause these issues to spread to other parts of the body. This can impact on prenatal health and the health of the baby. If you have any concerns about how the pregnancy is impacting your oral health, book an appointment with your dentist.
Pregnancy Granulomas
There is a common occurrence called pregnancy granulomas, which occur in as many as 6 out of 10 pregnant women. These are harmless growths that can appear on the gums and are due to hormonal fluctuations in both estrogen and progesterone. In most cases, these are not harmful and will typically go away once the baby is born. You need to be in regular contact with your dentist if you have pregnancy granulomas, as they can put pressure on the surrounding teeth, can cause issues with eating, or even prevent you from breathing so your dentist will need to assess as and when they need to be removed.
According to this trained dentist in Little Neck NY, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and rinsing with a warm saltwater solution can help soothe inflamed tissue and reduce the risk of secondary infection while you wait for the hormones to stabilize postpartum.