During pregnancy, your entire body is changing and every part of you will go through a certain type of transformation. On this journey, you might also experience some oral health issues due to the hormonal change happening when you’re expecting. Therefore, if you’re on your way to becoming a mother, it would be a good idea to become familiar with all the oral health issues you might run into while carrying your bundle of joy.
Enamel Erosion
Morning sickness is probably the most annoying and exhausting problem pregnant women go through, and aside from making you feel sick and unable to stand various foods, it can also affect your teeth. Namely, frequent vomiting can eventually cause tooth decay because of the stomach acid that comes in contact with your teeth. One of the ways to prevent enamel erosion is to rinse your mouth with water after vomiting. Don’t brush your teeth immediately, but give the enamel time to recover, and rinse first then brush after half an hour. Snacking on fresh fruit instead of sugary treats is also a good way to prevent enamel erosion.
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Gum disease is a very common problem among pregnant women, so it would be a good idea to turn to your dentist if you notice changes in the texture and colour of the soft tissue, if your gums become irritated or itchy, or if they bleed when you start cleaning your teeth. Adding an antimicrobial mouth rinse to your oral hygiene would be one of the good solutions for decreasing the number of bacteria that may also cause bad breath. Gingivitis can further develop into periodontitis which causes more severe health problems such as strokes, heart attacks and even premature birth, so it’s imperative that you treat this problem and try to do it naturally. Aside from regular brushing, flossing and rinsing, introduce more vitamin C into your diet.
Bad Breath
Hormonal changes, morning sickness followed by vomiting, and dehydration are all the common problems during pregnancy, but when you mix them all together you get a very unpleasant result called bad breath. If you add cavities to the entire mix, your oral health will be a real mess that can eventually lead to painful eating and considerable discomfort. This is why it’s vital that you maintain proper oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly, because any type of cavities can worsen if you decide to fly to another country. The changes in air pressure can cause pain and if untreated, cavities will eventually completely destroy your teeth and you might even need a root canal procedure. In case this problem occurs you should schedule to go for a root canal procedure and have your problem taken care of by experienced professionals who’ll do their best to make the procedure as smooth as possible. However, in order to prevent any major complications, make sure you brush your teeth after every meal, floss at least once a day, and use a mouthwash to rinse out all the acid coming from vomiting.
Soft Tissue Cysts
Another problem that might look frightening in the beginning, but is most often quite harmless, is soft tissue cysts. Unless the cysts cause pain, inhibit speech or chewing, or are cancerous, you shouldn’t worry about their size. They can become large, but you don’t need to remove them if they don’t pose a threat to you or your baby’s health. Once you have your baby, the cysts are likely to go away on their own, but if they don’t, you can always go to your dentist and have them removed.
Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can have, but it does come with a few tedious problems. Whether you’re experiencing pregnancy gingivitis, enamel erosion, bad breath or soft tissue cysts, your dentist will know exactly how to help you fix the problem. All you should do is have proper oral hygiene to make sure you keep all the bacteria at bay.
Author Bio
Diana Smith
is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in business and marketing related topics.
In her free time she enjoys exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.
