Pregnancy and YOUR teeth

 

Hi Guys – There have been quite a few questions popping up every now and then about teeth during pregnancy. . My teeth and I have formed a relationship during my pregnancies and its simple. . I have a baby and my teeth give two to the cause.

So basically I lose two teeth every time I have a baby.

It’s not a nice part of pregnancy and it’s also not an openly discussed part. Lets face it, who really wants to admit that their teeth rot and decay during a pregnancy. My dentist has told me to get over it, as sadly it is what my body has done. As he say, we all have to pay a price for our lifestyles.

Don’t get me wrong my dentist is a GREAT guy who is very good at his job but he is also a realist and openly talks about how many women will sadly loose a tooth or two during a pregnancy.

Anyway here is a little of what he has told me and hopefully it will help someone. .

It is a well-known fact that during pregnancy our bodies go through so many changes and adjustments and our gums and teeth go through this as well. During your pregnancy your gums are more likely to become inflamed and angry as well as getting infected. Your gums go through these changes due to the hormonal changes, the increased blood flow in your body, swelling and sensitivity.

MOST pregnant women will experience some type of bleeding when brushing or flossing their teeth. For those who don’t know “inflamed” gums are known as Gingivitis and “infected” gums is known as periodontal disease. During your pregnancy you may also notice that your mouth will produce a lot more saliva than before, this is normal so don’t be worried by this. It is your body’s natural way of trying to protect you gums etc.

~What you can do~

It’s important to be sure that you do all that your can to keep your gums healthy during your pregnancy, if gingivitis is left unchecked then you run the risk of possibly developing a far more serious type of gum disease. . Here are some steps my dentist gave me to help to try and keep my teeth and gums healthy. .

• Floss daily but it is even better if you can floss after every meal. Here is a link to a video that demonstrates how to floss correctly
• Be Gentle by using a soft bristled tooth brush and also during pregnancy it is advisable to use a tooth paste designed for sensitive gums. My dentist also suggested that I use ice to soothe any pain on my gums after brushing.
• No to sweets as during normal times sweets are okay in small doses but during your pregnancy your teeth are even more prone to tooth decay
• Brush your teeth a bare minimum of twice a day. However my dentist says that ideally you should brush after every meal for at least 5 mins if you can find the time. Here is a link to a video on proper tooth brushing techniques
• Sugar free gum is also a great thing to chew on during your pregnancy if you find yourself unable to brush as often as you’d like.
• Regular checkups are still important during your pregnancy.  My dentists says that ideally you should have a dental checkups done at the very early stages of your pregnancy at which time your dentist will advice you when to come again

One of the most important things that my dentist tells me is to NEVER put off dental work just because you are pregnant. Decaying teeth or serious gum disease can in fact be harmful to your unborn baby. If you need dental care just remember to remind your dentist that you are pregnant.

Please make sure to visit you dentist immediately if you have any of these symptoms during your pregnancy:

• You lose a tooth
• Your gums are painful and/or bleed a lot
• You find that you have developed rather bad breathe
• You notice that you have a lump growing inside your mouth or under your tongue
• You are experiencing bad tooth pain

I seem to be referring to old wives tales a lot lately BUT seeing  dentis WILL NOT cause you to lose your baby . . . .

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope someone finds it useful

Cheers Kellz

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