It is common knowledge that women experience hormonal change during their periods of pregnancy. Pregnancy ignite various physical changes with the entire body. It’s important to note that pregnancy can negatively affect your oral health and cause various dental problems. In this blog, we’ll talk about the influence of pregnancy on your dental health.
How Pregnancies Affect the Gums
Oftentimes, gums become very sensitive, look redder and even start bleeding during pregnancy. That’s why it is incredibly important to keep an eye on the gums during a pregnancy. It is important to note that maintaining good oral hygiene (brushing teeth twice a day and tossing teeth once a day) as well as eating a healthy diet helps women prevent various gum-related issues during their pregnancies. Although hormonal change in the body may make the taste/ smell of certain toothpastes difficult to bear, it’s important that this basic aspect of up-keeping oral hygiene is not over looked.
What Women Need to Know about Pregnancy Gingivitis
The hormone “progesterone” usually increases dramatically during pregnancy. This may result in the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth that causes gingivitis. Swollen and irritated gums are considered to be the main symptoms of “pregnancy gingivitis”. Gums start bleeding during simple brushing of the teeth. Pregnancy gingivitis usually takes place between the 3-rd and 9-th months of pregnancy. The symptoms of “pregnancy gingivitis” lower after childbirth.
Pregnancy and Dry Mouth
Women can also suffer from a constant dry mouth during their pregnancy. The lack of saliva can lead to growing bacteria in the mouth which, of course, leads to further dental problems. In order to prevent this from happening women are recommended to drink a lot of water to keep their mouths hydrated and moist. Water will perform the function of saliva and help clear away some of the bacteria that causes cavities. It is also a good idea to eat sugarless hard candies or chew gum as a way to prevent dry mouth. By doing so, you will be able to reduce bacteria in your mouth significantly.
Pregnancy and Excessive Saliva
Pregnancy may also cause the opposite effect of dry mouth; excessive saliva. Excessive saliva occurs at the beginning of pregnancy and disappears by the end of the 1-st trimester. Excessive saliva can lead to nausea and an uncomfortable sensation in the mouth.
Pregnancy and Enamel Erosion
Many women experience frequent vomiting during their pregnancy. Frequent vomiting can negatively affect the enamel of teeth and even result in enamel erosion. In order to prevent enamel damage, you shouldn’t brush teeth immediately after vomiting. Vomit is high in acidic that can cause damage to a tooth’s enamel. That’s why it is best to brush the teeth in 20-30 minutes after vomiting. Moreover, you should always rinse your mouth with water before tooth brushing.
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