Oral dental care in women is privileged during pregnancy. Changing hormone levels in your body during pregnancy makes the gums more vulnerable and harmful to the plaque of harmful bacteria. If you already have gum disease, the pregnancy will make it worse.
Every woman who thinks or is pregnant should definitely get a dental checkup, learn what to do or not to do for oral health and get the necessary treatments. This is very important for the health of both the mother and her child.
It is very important to provide oral care during pregnancy, brushing your teeth and flossing every day, eating a healthy and balanced diet, going to check your dentist regularly.
What are the changes in teeth and gums during pregnancy?
Gingival diseases may develop more during pregnancy, which is due to the excessive reaction of the body to the lack of hygiene in the mouth due to the change in the hormonal balance. Large gums and rashes may occur on the gums known as "pregnancy gingivitis". Breath odor or bad taste is constantly present in your mouth. Adult gums can create a good environment for food residues and bacteria accumulation, which can cause tooth decay. This picture mostly affects the majority of pregnant women with different severity in the second trimester. If gingivitis is already present, it may increase in severity during pregnancy and progress to periodontitis if it is not treated. Pregnant women also have the risk of developing a "pregnancy tumor". These are inflammatory lesions caused by irritation of gingival enlargements. It should be taken by the dentist if it is usually left on its own, if it bothers the patient or prevents chewing, brushing and other oral care.
Why teeth are lost while pregnant?
The notion that "during pregnancy, the baby takes the calcium required by the mother from the teeth of the mother, weakening the teeth of the mother and leads to rapid decay, therefore, pregnant mothers have lost teeth", but it is completely wrong in the society. There is no scientific evidence of calcium loss from the mother's teeth during pregnancy. On the contrary, the bond that calcium makes with dental tissue is 6 times stronger than it does with bones.
If sufficient calcium cannot be provided with foods, the amount necessary for the development of the baby is met from the bones of the mother. There is no calcium dissolution from the teeth.
- Increasing the consumption of sugary and carbohydrate-based foods, determining excessive desire for sweet, junk food in the expected period of the baby and neglecting tooth brushing after they are eaten
- Damage to the teeth caused by vomiting in the first months
- There may be an increase in the number of caries in the mouth and tooth loss due to reasons such as the gums bleed more quickly due to the effects of pregnancy hormones and the mother avoiding brushing due to pain and tenderness.
Can dental treatment be performed during pregnancy?
- Dental treatment should be avoided in the first trimester, when the baby has an organ development stage in the first trimester. Treatments should be postponed to the second trimester. In emergencies such as dental or gingivitis, the idea that the existing infection may negatively affect the development of the baby should be brought to the fore and action should be taken in accordance with the recommendations of your dentist and gynecologist.
- The mother may be uncomfortable when she is doing dental treatment due to her comfortable positions in the last three months and not being able to sit in the seat for a long time.
- Although many medications are not recommended or controlled during pregnancy, no side effects of local anesthetics used in dental treatments have been reported. In the treatment performed under anesthesia, the patient will not feel pain and will experience less stress.
- The use of antibiotics, especially Penicillin and its derivatives (amoxicilline, etc.) is not a problem for the baby. Tetracycline group antibiotics should not be taken. If tetracycline is taken during pregnancy, the teeth that we call "tetracycline colorings" occur in the baby's teeth. Care should be taken in using painkillers and strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Although the radiation is very low in x-ray machines used in dentistry, x-ray shots should be avoided in pregnant women. If not necessary, this procedure should be postponed after delivery.
What to do while pregnant
If a healthy person is not expected to lose his tooth while stopping and stopping, the expectant mother will not experience tooth loss or other problems if she follows the simple rules described below.
It is a fact that expectant mothers complained about dental caries and especially gum problems during their pregnancy. If you are planning to become pregnant, you should undergo a dental checkup to start the pregnancy period with a healthy mouth and teeth. Treatment of the teeth and gums that may cause problems while you are pregnant will allow both your baby and you to have a comfortable pregnancy period.
If you are pregnant, you are at a time when you should pay particular attention to your teeth and gums. Your hormonal levels, which change depending on pregnancy, will directly affect your gum problems and indirectly your caries. In this case, it is very important to keep oral hygiene at the highest level. To prevent tooth decay and gum disease, all you need to do is brush your teeth with a fluoride-containing toothpaste for 3 minutes, 2 times a day, flush your teeth with a dental floss and rinse with a fluoride mouthwash.
But when you disrupt your dental care, you will experience the consequences more severe during your pregnancy. Another thing you need to do to protect your oral-dental health is to be under the control of a dentist. Your pregnancy does not prevent you from getting dental treatment. Regularly going to your checks and cleaning your teeth will decrease your chances of an emergency during your pregnancy. Your dentist will plan all necessary treatments with no harm to you and your baby and will contact your obstetrician if necessary.
Precautions to be taken for the dental health of the baby
Baby's dental development begins in the womb. During this period, the mother should pay attention to a balanced diet both for her own health and for her baby's dental development. Protein for dental health, vitamin A (meat, milk, egg, yellow vegetables and fruits) Vitamin C (citrus, tomato, strawberry), Vitamin D (meat, milk, egg, fish) and calcium (milk and dairy products, green leafy) Foods rich in vegetables should be adequately removed. In addition, unconscious use of drugs should be avoided.)
In addition, as the diseases that the mother may have during pregnancy and the medications she will use will have negative effects on the milk teeth, she should definitely use medicines under the control of a doctor. During pregnancy, taking fluoride tablets to be beneficial for the development of the baby's teeth is not recommended, since fluoride cannot pass through the placental barrier.