Dental Care during Pregnancy Explained

If you experience tooth pain during pregnancy, it most likely is not a mere coincidence. When you’re pregnant there’s understandably a million things that consume your mind. Your teeth, and dental care in general, is probably at the bottom of your list. But there’s enough reason to be cautious and pay extra attention to pregnancy dental care.

Many women experience sensitive teeth during pregnancy and other changes in their mouth - from pregnancy gingivitis, gum pain during pregnancy, to increased susceptibility to tooth decay. The increasing hormonal fluctuations that occur in your body during pregnancy accelerate the risk of developing gum disease and teeth problems during pregnancy².

• Types of teeth problems during pregnancy

• Pregnancy Dental Care

• What’s not a pregnancy side effect?

Do not to neglect your oral and dental hygiene if you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant. We understand you have many other things to worry about, and dental hygiene is not exactly on the top of your priority list. So, to minimise your effort and make life a little easier, try the Oral-B iO Series electric toothbrush . It is a one-stop solution to your pregnancy dental care needs.

Enabled with the new iO™ technology, that is a combination of micro-vibrating bristles, and Oral-B's dentist-inspired round brush head, you can simply stay at ease while your toothbrush does the hard work. Additionally, it comes with an interactive display that greets you, shows the different brushing modes and gives you a smile when you’ve done a good job. When you’re pregnant, you will surely need all the mood-boosting!

Types of teeth problems during pregnancy

The risk of gum and teeth problems during pregnancy increases during those months and here are the common ones.²

• Pregnancy gingivitis

  
  

  Pregnancy gingivitis is gingivitis which women get due to pregnancy. It is the initial phase of gum disease characterised by swelling, redness and irritation of the part of the gum that is closest to your teeth.

• Oral Pregnancy tumors

  
  

  Don’t let the word ‘tumors’ alarm you, it’s not as scary as it sounds and is non-cancerous. Oral pregnancy tumours are when there’s an overgrowth of tissue on the gums, like a swelling between your teeth.

It is common for oral pregnancy tumors to grow in your second trimester.

• Cavities

  
  

  One of the most common dental problems among people, cavities are the erosion of the outer surface of your teeth, which later develop into holes. There are several reasons why this tooth problem is so common during pregnancy – vomit-induced increased acidity in the mouth, food cravings leading to increased snacking, poor oral hygiene due to morning sickness are some of those

Pregnancy Dental Care

It is completely fine to get any kind of routine dental treatments during pregnancy. We understand it can be an overwhelming period but following improper pregnancy dental care and hygiene can lead to any of the above conditions. But worry not, with just a few simple steps you can avoid painful tooth pain and gum pain during pregnancy² .

1. Brush twice a day using a toothbrush with soft bristles and good fluoride toothpaste. If you have morning sickness, try rinsing your mouth with a good antimicrobial mouth wash. You could also switch to bland-tasting toothpaste.

2. Floss your teeth after every meal daily. Flossing ensures you get rid of any food particles that are otherwise out of the reach of your toothbrush, which you are using less if you fall prey to morning sickness. In such a situation, flossing is an absolutely important step in your pregnancy dental care. Use Oral-B’s Essential Mint Dental Floss which slides with ease between your teeth to remove any food particle or plaque.

3. Don’t skip your appointments or professional cleaning treatments just because you’re pregnant. Keep up your dental treatments during pregnancy.

4. Be extremely careful about your gums and keep a close watch for any bleeding or swelling. If you do notice, consult your dentist immediately.

What’s not a pregnancy side effect?

You must note however that other side effects or teeth problems during pregnancy such as loose or breaking teeth is not common. You must consult your dentist if you experience extreme pain in your teeth or gums.

If you already have a stellar pregnancy dental care regime then just continue following the same. And if you haven’t exactly been maintaining proper oral hygiene or pregnancy has disrupted your dental care practices, it’s okay. Just remember that you can still pick up and commit to dental care habits that fit your current situation.

Good oral hygiene and dental care during pregnancy can help in keeping you and your baby healthy.

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