Pregnancy is undoubtedly a joyous occasion, but if you don’t take the proper precautions serious damage can be done to your mouth. Women are warned not to smoke, not to eat shellfish, and to get plenty of exercise. These are all good pieces of advice, but the list frequently ignores the best ways to keep your mouth from deteriorating in the process.
The belief that babies strip the calcium from your teeth while in utero is exactly that, a myth. As long as you have a nutritionally sufficient diet, your baby will get all the vitamins it needs. You can add supplements if you have any doubt, but the only way a baby would strip calcium from your bones and “NOT TEETH” is if they don’t get it through these methods.
The surge of hormones which occur from pregnancy can affect how your mouth fight plaque. A woman’s body is focused on other things aside from fighting plaque. Luckily, this is easy enough to fight.
You were, hopefully, brushing at least twice a day before becoming pregnant. This habit should continue throughout your pregnancy, in fact, I recommend increasing it to three times per day. The best times to brush are before breakfast in the morning and before you go to bed.
Anything acidic weakens your enamel by reproducing the oral bacteria at a faster pace than usual, so be sure to wait at least an hour after eating anything acidic after brushing. The same goes for morning sickness, do not wait long after vomiting to brush. Fight that after-taste by rubbing fluoride toothpaste on your teeth with your finger.
Gestational diabetes causes all of the problems type 2 diabetes does, including tooth loss. Recent research suggests that Vitamin D may help prevent gestational diabetes from occurring. More than 30 studies have been conducted which show vitamin D as a pre-cursor for gestational health.
While your obstetrician may prescribe you vitamin D supplements, be sure to consult regularly with Dr. Jean-Jacques Edderai or any of our Hygienists to make sure your teeth show no signs of diabetes. Also, be sure to tell us if you are pregnant. There are some dental procedures which may be dangerous if you are pregnant.
Pregnant women may experience non-cancerous growths known as pregnancy tumors. These usually go away on their own once the baby is born. Sometimes these (gum growth) tumors get large enough to impact chewing and saliva production. If this happens, or if they become painful, Dr. Edderai may elect to remove them.
Pregnancy tumors usually develop because of an irritant on the gum line (see more information at http://www.northmiamibeachdentist.com/faqs/). Keeping your teeth clean will reduce your risk of developing these abnormalities. If they are caused by plaque build-up, this can usually be treated. This condition is more common in women who also have pregnancy gingivitis.
As early as two months into your pregnancy signs of pregnancy gingivitis can begin to surface. If you previously had gingivitis, it is likely to become worse while carrying a child. If this condition is left untreated, it can cause periodontitis. (http://www.northmiamibeachdentist.com/dental-services/periodontics-gum-disease/).
The best prevention and treatment methods for both of these conditions Dr. Edderai recommends proper oral hygiene and monthly visits with our hygienists. We can detect early on if there are any conditions which may become worse if left unattended. If you do not practice prevention, dental restorative procedures may be needed in the future (http://www.northmiamibeachdentist.com/cerec/).
Before treating gum, tooth, or other oral problems consult with Dr. JJ Edderai. A dental check-up every three to four months will allow Dr. Edderai to keep a watchful eye on your oral health and prevent cavities before they start. For answers to some of the most commonly asked questions, visit my FAQ page at http://www.northmiamibeachdentist.com/faqs/.
Copyright Dr. Jean-Jacques Edderai -2015