Explaining the Impact of Pregnancy on Dental Health to Patients

When expecting a new addition to their families, few women stop
to think about how pregnancy may impact their dental health.
However, shifting hormone levels paired with the delicacy of fetal
development makes caring for a woman’s teeth during pregnancy
critical both for their own health and that of her unborn baby.

Dentists should encourage patients considering conceiving to
visit them pre-pregnancy as well as throughout their gestation
period. Periodontal disease may permit dangerous bacteria to enter
the mother’s bloodstream, potentially causing harm to her fetus.
Dental health professionals can significantly reduce these risks by
educating their clientele on proper oral hygiene while they’re
expecting.

Preconceived Ideas

Preferably, women should book an appointment with their
dental-care provider for a thorough cleaning and allow their
dentist to check for any signs of gingivitis. Patients exhibiting
signs of swollen, bloody gums should receive treatment before
conceiving. Dental best practices include educating female patients
of childbearing age about the importance of pre and postnatal oral
care.

Prostaglandin in a pregnant woman’s mouth can significantly

impact the chances of premature birth when it enters the
bloodstream via cuts in the gum line. Infants born too early often
need intensive hospital care to complete development. This puts an
added economic strain on families during what is already a
stressful time.

Diet During Pregnancy

Medical professionals have long known the importance of vitamin
D in helping the body process calcium and magnesium, minerals
important to oral health. However, only approximately
18 percent of expecting women get their recommended daily
amount of this vital nutrient.

Seek prenatal vitamins that include vitamin D or invest in a
separate supplement. Dairy and fish both contain high levels of
vitamin D, and seafood also offers essential fatty acids required
for fetal neurological development.

How Pregnancy Hormones Affect Dental Care

The hormonal changes women experience during pregnancy impacts
both teeth and gums. Women who experience morning sickness
unwillingly expose their teeth to corrosive stomach acids, which
can destroy tooth enamel. As the smell and taste of toothpaste can
further nauseate pregnant women, rinse after vomiting with
a mild baking soda and water solution to remove the acid. The
baking soda neutralizes any remaining stomach acids on the
teeth.

Babies born to mothers suffering from periodontal disease
often
suffer lower birth weights than those of mothers with healthy
gums. As the disease progresses slowly, expectant mothers should
undergo regular dental checkups throughout pregnancy to catch and
reverse early cases.

What’s Safe and What’s Not

During pregnancy, the general rule states that maintaining
regular dental care improves birth outcomes. However, dental health
practitioners should urge patients to postpone elective services
such as getting new braces or undergoing tooth whitening.

Dentists should likewise inquire as to all medications the
pregnant woman takes, including over-the-counter supplements. Some
drugs cause a decrease in saliva production, leading to dry mouth.
With inadequate saliva production, food particles remain trapped in
teeth longer, causing decay.

Other medications cause swollen gums or changes to gum tissue.
Such patients should take care to see their dentists with increased
frequency during pregnancy
as their risk of developing gingivitis increases
significantly.

Finally, women may safely undergo dental X-rays while expecting.
Dentists should exercise additional precautions, such as covering
the woman’s thyroid and abdomen before taking images.

Once a Woman Gives Birth

Once a woman gives birth, her body continues to undergo hormonal
changes. While the postpartum period contains a ton of new
responsibilities, reach out to new mothers and remind them of the
importance of undergoing a thorough mouth examination to check for
any gum disease and to pursue more aggressive treatment regimens if
necessary. Breastfeeding mothers are
especially vulnerable to gingivitis, cavities and calcium
deficiency.

Dentists should likewise remind patients of protecting the oral
health of their children. While most children don’t have a full
mouth of pearly whites until their third birthday, dental care
begins even before teething. Instruct new moms to feed infants
breast milk, water or formula, and urge them to refrain from giving
babies sweet juice drinks and other sugary beverages.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby

Maintaining proper dental hygiene before, during and after
pregnancy improves health outcomes for mothers and children alike.
Dental health professionals should educate parents-to-be about what
to expect and what problems to look for. When dentists and parents
work together, more children have the opportunity to grow up
strong.

About the author:

Kate Harveston is a health and wellness blogger. She enjoys
writing about a myriad of topics, and if you like her work, you can
visit her at her women’s health blog, So
Well, So Woman.

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