When you learn you’re pregnant, your teeth probably are the last thing on your mind. However, overlooking dental health can have serious consequences for your pregnancy. A 2005 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that pregnant women are less likely than the general population to get help for dental problems. Permanent health problems for your baby can result when tooth problems go untreated during pregnancy.
Dental Problems in Pregnancy
Pregnancy can worsen tooth problems and gum diseases and cause toothaches and other mouth pain. According to MayoClinic.com, pregnancy boosts acidity in the mouth, which increases the risk of cavities and tooth decay. Morning sickness adds to the problem, because vomit exposes the teeth to gastric acid. Morning nausea also discourages many women from brushing their teeth. Higher levels of progesterone and estrogen soften ligaments and bones that support teeth, which can loosen teeth. Hormonal fluctuations aggravate inflammation from gum disease. Small irritations, such as tartar buildup, can cause pregnancy tumors, or overgrowths of gum tissue. Pregnancy tumors injure easily and may interfere with eating.
Dental Health and Your Baby
Poor dental health during pregnancy can harm your baby and lead to a problem pregnancy, according to the CDC. The agency has linked gum disease with preterm labor or premature rupture of the amniotic sac and chorionic membrane. Tooth problems also may contribute to high blood pressure during pregnancy. Left untreated, severe gum disease may cause low birth weight of less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Babies born at low birth weight are at higher risk of complications, including respiratory problems, bleeding in the brain, vision loss, heart defects and gastroenterological illnesses.
Treatment
Basic care prevents dental problems during pregnancy. Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush after each meal and floss nightly. Chew sugar-free gum after meals to increase saliva production, which wards off bacterial growth. Rinse regularly with fluoride mouthwash. After morning sickness, rinse your mouth with one cup of water containing 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Your dentist can remove pregnancy tumors that keep you from eating, but tumors can recur during and even after pregnancy.
Prevention
Routine teeth cleanings and other regular dental care can protect oral health during pregnancy. If you’re planning to get pregnant, MayoClinic.com recommends that you schedule a comprehensive dental exam to spot and treat problems such as preexisting cavities. Once pregnant, avoid foods that encourage bacteria growth and tooth decay, including sugar-laden candies or sodas and carbohydrate-rich crackers and potato chips. Prenatal vitamins and foods high in protein, calcium, phosphorous and vitamins A, C and D also can aid oral health during pregnancy, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you do need dental care during pregnancy, you don’t need to put it off to protect your baby. A study published in “The Journal of the American Dental Association” in 2008 reported that topical and local dental anesthetics are safe for women between 13 and 21 weeks of pregnancy.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dental Care Use Among Pregnant Women in the United States Reported in 1999 and 2002; Peggy Timothe, D.D.S., M.P.H., et al.; January 2005
- MayoClinic.com; Dental Health During Pregnancy; Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.; June 2009
- The Merck Manual; Gingivitis; James T. Ubertalli, D.M.D.; October 2008
- Medical News Today; Essential Dental Treatment Safe for Pregnant Women; June 2008
- "The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing"; Oral Health During Pregnancy; L.W. Mills, et al.; September-October 2002
