Toothache During Pregnancy: Everything Expectant Mother Should Know

Toothache during pregnancy can occur all of a sudden, making the expectant mother feel worried about her health and the safety of a baby. Although not many people enjoy visiting a dentist, pregnant women should find an opportunity to see a specialist before their baby is born. Dental health impacts overall health, which is experiencing significant changes during pregnancy. Some women are mistaken when they postpone the visit to the dentist’s office for 9 months. They need to schedule the appointment as a doctor will not only take a complete dental exam but will also help deal with dental issues connected with pregnancy.

How Does Pregnancy Affect Your Dental Health?

Dental or oral health is the health of a person’s mouth, gums, and teeth.  Being pregnant, a woman needs medical care more than before as now she is responsible for one more life. Some studies say that there is a strong connection between gum disease and the baby’s premature birth. Taking good care of your dental health is crucial, as changes in your body affect it a lot:

1.   Increased level of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) leads to a number of dental health problems.
2.   Change in eating habits. Some women eat more of certain meals than they consume before. These foods may negatively affect dental health.
3.   Less flossing or brushing teeth. Pregnant women often start to brush their teeth or floss the mouth rarely. Such a tendency may be caused by feeling too tired, having tender and bleeding gums during pregnancy, or even feeling sick to the stomach.

These changes may make a woman more prone to dental issues during pregnancy.

Dental Issues During Pregnancy

The woman’s organism changes during each semester of pregnancy. Elevated hormone levels, together with retaining fluids, force women to suffer from such common dental problems as:

Pregnancy Gingivitis

Expectant mothers are more likely to suffer from a mild form of gum disease due to hormonal changes that overstate the body’s reaction to the bacteria in the woman’s mouth. Unfortunately, it can even lead to a more serious issue, called gum disease, if not treated properly. As a result of gingivitis, pregnant women may have swollen gums during pregnancy, irritation, redness, bad breath, and even bleeding gums.

Gum tumors

Do not panic as tumors aren’t cancer. These are lumps that appear on the woman’s gums, often between the teeth. Note that round, red lumps along a gum line are developing because of hormonal changes. One of the reasons for suffering from gum tumors is lots of bacteria. This dental issue is quite rare and disappears after a child is born. Rarely, a woman has to visit her dentist and remove the lumps after giving birth to a baby.

Enamel erosion

Most expectant mothers have morning sickness that leads to frequent vomiting. Some women suffer from this problem only during the first semester, while others deal with the issue all nine months. The acids may begin to ruin your tooth enamel, enhancing the possibility of developing cavities. There are a few ways to reduce possible risks and finally enjoy your Hollywood smile every day.

Tooth decay

Expectant mothers are more prone to tooth decay that is a small, damaged area in your teeth. Pregnant women probably are having more snacks that cause tooth decay. Also, increased acidity due to vomiting and nausea may lead to cavities. You have to be very attentive to possible bacteria; otherwise, it may cause problems for the infant teeth of your baby.

Pregnancy bad breath

Although pregnancy is such an exciting period in the life of every woman, one more unpleasant issue, she can come across is bad breath. It is a result of becoming your mouth ideal breeding place for the plaque that produces volatile sulfur compounds.  Exactly they stay for a bad breath that comes from your mouth. That’s why it is more important than ever to care about your dental health, choose an effective mouthwash, and remember that bad breath is a problem that you can prevent if you see a dentist during pregnancy regularly.

You can reduce the risks of suffering from any of these dental issues by adhering to simple rules of tooth care and visiting a dentist during pregnancy regularly.

How to Care about Dental Health While Expecting a Baby

Taking care of your teeth is extremely important not only for your health but for your baby’s health. Dr. Philip M. Gallegos from Gallegos Family Dentistry gives you a list of essential but very practical tips. This is what you can do to keep your teeth healthy even while undergoing incredible body changes:

1.  Maintain basic oral hygiene

Cleaning teeth twice a day is especially important during pregnancy as your immunity worsens, and hormonal changes may affect the barrier of tooth protection. As a result, you become more exposed to plaque. So, if earlier you might have skipped cleaning teeth regularly, now, it is high time to maintain this basic oral hygiene. Choose the best toothpaste for pregnancy and change a toothbrush if necessary. Also, try to floss at least once per day as you are more likely to suffer from gum disease during pregnancy. Flossing will help you remove plaque and protect the gum from periodontal disease.

2.  Keep to a healthy diet

Avoid consuming sugary drinks and foods to promote your baby’s health and keep your teeth healthy during pregnancy. Products with a high intake of sugar may cause tooth decay and negatively impact your overall dental health. Instead, make sure you consume enough calcium – a necessary vitamin for expectant mothers. A daily amount should be not less than 1200mg, and you can get it through spinach, dairy, beans, broccoli, etc.

3.  Visit a dentist

It is very important to visit a dentist to address any dental issues during pregnancy. Many moms-to-be think that they must postpone seeing a specialist even if they require dental assistance. However, such common procedures as X-rays, deep dental cleaning, and local anesthesia are recognized to be not dangerous for pregnant women.

A specialist will help you choose a safe toothpaste for pregnancy, give recommendations on how to protect tooth enamel, answer all questions on fluoride treatment while expecting a baby, and help identify possible problems that require urgent medical care. You shouldn’t also avoid visiting a dental clinic to reduce risks for babies to have cavities in the future.  For instance, yellow teeth during pregnancy may warn about some serious problems, meaning that you need to change your lifestyle habits as soon as possible. It is better to get all the necessary treatment before the second trimester ends as then it will be more difficult for you to stay in a dentist’s armchair.

When to Tell the Dentist about Pregnancy?

Tooth pain during pregnancy is a common issue for many women. Still, most of them are wondering whether it is necessary to notify the doctor about the pregnancy. Mind that woman should tell the dentist about pregnancy at once, even if she only suspects she is waiting for a baby. It is necessary to tell what medications a physician has prescribed or what piece of advice the doctor has given. A dentist will consider all these details before giving you any recommendations or providing any dental assistance.  Be sure a good specialist will not prescribe any medications that may harm you or your baby, but do not be shy to ask questions if you have some hesitations in terms of treatment.

When is Dental Treatment Crucial?

The woman experiences the two most critical periods during the entire pregnancy. These are the first and the third semesters. Exactly at this time, an expectant mother has to be very careful not to hurt a baby. An unsanitary oral cavity can be one of the risk factors for a baby’s health. At the same time, it’s better to have all routine dental treatment in the second trimester.

Can the root canal during pregnancy be treated?

Some pregnant women know a strong link between tooth pain and pregnancy.  Unfortunately, this is why certain dental issues such as root canal may require urgent help.  Moms-to-be are often wondering Can I get a root canal while pregnant?

A root canal doesn’t set a serious threat either for a woman or her baby. But the patient must learn common risks that are usually associated with it.

Is wisdom teeth removal while pregnant safe?

Some women think about tooth extraction during pregnancy but let’s find out whether dentists are ready to perform this procedure. In most cases, a doctor will offer to wait until the baby is born to avoid stress and pain that is bad for the overall body. But if a patient has gingivitis or an infection, urgent tooth extraction during pregnancy can be considered.

Wrapping-up

Pregnancy is a period of joy and happiness, but a woman should be especially attentive to her health at this time. Dental care is a crucial element of a healthy pregnancy.  It is necessary to make sure that the teeth get proper attention because hormonal changes make them more prone to disease. A woman should visit a dentist regularly as her oral health plays a significant role in the appropriate development of a child.  If you are looking for an experienced family dentist in Albuquerque, Gallegos Family Dentistry is here to help. Here, you can get high-qualified assistance for any dental issue, decrease the probability of suffering from tooth pain during pregnancy, and not worry about the safety of your baby.