2 Common Dental Problems In Pregnancy
SharePregnant women sometimes have problems with their teeth and gums. Changes to your body and lifestyle during this time can affect your mouth. Read on to learn more about some common problems to watch out for.
1. Tooth Decay
Pregnancy poses some risk to your teeth, and some women do have problems with decay during this time. In some cases, this is down to morning sickness.
For example, if you have severe sickness problems, then you might not find it easy to brush your teeth effectively without feeling nauseous. You might also have more acids coming into your mouth which might damage the surface of your teeth.
Some women also develop a more sensitive gag reflex when they are pregnant. This also makes it harder to brush your teeth. If you gag whenever you put a toothbrush in your mouth, then you can't clean your teeth and gums as effectively as you need to.
Plus, in some cases, a change in diet can affect the health of your teeth. If you crave sweet things or eat a lot more carbohydrates, then you expose your teeth to more risks. You might be more at risk of enamel damage and cavities. This risk becomes higher if you can't find a way to maintain a healthy dental care routine.
2. Swollen Gums
Some of the normal changes you experience when you're pregnant can affect your dental health. For example, an excess of hormones can make your gums red, sore, and swollen. They might bleed when you brush them or use floss.
While you might have minor gum problems that clear up with some careful brushing and cleaning, sometimes you might have more persistent problems. You might develop pregnancy gingivitis. While this problem typically clears up after you've had your baby, you should keep a careful watch on it while you're pregnant. Any kind of gingivitis can develop into a more serious type of gum disease.
It's important to try to maintain a regular dental care routine when you're pregnant and to get extra help from your dentist if you need it. For example, they can help you clean your gums to help manage gingivitis problems.
You should also see your dentist regularly and make sure that they know that you are pregnant. If you haven't had a check-up for a while or think that you might have a problem with your teeth or gums, then contact a dental practice like Creative Smiles.