How does pregnancy affect oral health?
Calcium loss from the mother’s teeth during pregnancy and it is a misconception that the mother will lose one tooth with each pregnancy. However, it is a fact that there will be some changes in oral health during pregnancy. The most important change is the increase in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels, which is associated with increased plaque accumulation on the teeth.
If plaque is not removed, it causes gingivitis. This condition is called “pregnancy gingivitis”. The gingiva is red, increased in volume, tender and bleeding.
Pregnant women are also at risk of developing a “pregnancy tumor”. These are inflammatory lesions that occur as a result of irritation of gingival enlargements. Although it is usually left to itself, it should be removed by the dentist if it causes discomfort to the patient or interferes with chewing, brushing and other oral care procedures.
How can these problems be avoided?
Gingivitis can be prevented by effective care and cleaning of the teeth. Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day, whenever possible, after each meal. Cleaning with dental floss should also be done on all teeth every day. If brushing your teeth in the morning is uncomfortable, the mouth should be rinsed with water or anti-plaque and fluoride mouthwashes. Along with a balanced diet, vitamin C and B12 supplements are also important for maintaining oral health. Visiting the dentist more frequently also prevents the development of gingivtis by providing effective plaque control. Plaque control also reduces gingival irritation and the risk of pregnancy tumors.
Is dental X-ray harmful during pregnancy?
In this period, temporary resolution of complaints due to dental problems can be done without film, the main treatment can be left after delivery. Filming is not suitable for monitoring the stages of dental treatment (root canal treatment, etc.). If necessary, unsuccessful treatments should be repeated after delivery.
The approach may be different in important situations where the general health of the mother is concerned. In cases where the film is unavoidable for diagnosis; Although the amount of radiation given in x-rays taken in dentistry is very low and not very close to the abdomen, a lead apron must be used to prevent the developing baby from receiving radiation.
Do teeth rot faster during pregnancy?
As stated before, the belief that “calcium is withdrawn from the mother’s teeth during pregnancy and therefore every baby will lose a tooth for the mother” is definitely not true. The deterioration of the balance in the body during pregnancy creates an environment suitable for the rapid decay of teeth. During this period, the causes of faster decay of teeth are as follows;
During the feeding period, an excessive desire for sweets and snacks appears, and after these are eaten, brushing is neglected.
After vomiting in the first months, the mother may not pay enough attention to oral care.
The mother, whose gums bleed more quickly due to the effect of pregnancy hormones (estrogen, progertron), avoids brushing her teeth. For these reasons, it is necessary to pay more attention to dental health during this period.
Are there any precautions to be taken for the baby’s dental health?
Baby’s teeth development begins in the womb. During this period, the mother should pay attention to a balanced diet for both her own health and the dental development of her baby. Protein for dental health, vitamin A (meat, milk, eggs, yellow vegetables and fruits), vitamin C (citrus, tomatoes, strawberries), vitamin D (meat, milk, eggs, fish) and calcium (milk and dairy products, green leafy vegetables) ) rich foods should be taken enough.
Unconscious drug use should be avoided. The drugs used may adversely affect the baby’s dental health as well as the general body development.
Will my “I took antibiotics while pregnant” baby’s teeth affected?
We stated that unconscious drug use should be avoided during this period. However, it is wrong to believe that every antibiotic used causes staining on the baby’s teeth. The group of antibiotics that cause discoloration on the teeth are “tetracyclines”. Antibiotics other than this have not been proven to cause coloration.
Note: This article was taken from www.tdb.org.tr.
