Despite spending several years working in obstetrics and looking after pregnant women, it was really after coming across @dentalmummy on Instagram that I understood just how many changes happen to our teeth at this pivotal time!
It is so important to be aware of these changes, so that we can take the necessary steps to prevent any longer-term damage from occurring!
Im very grateful to Helen for sharing her top tips here:
Lots of changes happen to your body during pregnancy…. you are obviously doing the most important job of growing your baby! I’m going to focus on the effect pregnancy can have on your oral health. Ideally, we advise ensuring you have good oral health if you are planning to conceive, but pregnancies aren’t always planned, so it is a good idea to visit your dentist regularly.
Why do we need to be so aware?
Bleeding gums, strange and sweet cravings, altered taste sensation, morning sickness (that can sometimes go on for the day and beyond the first trimester!), having a gag reflex when attempting to brush your teeth and changes in your dietary habits can all have a negative impact on your oral health.
Hormonal changes in pregnancy can make your gums more sensitive to plaque, leading to swollen (inflamed) and bleeding gums – this is known as pregnancy gingivitis. Occasionally, some women will develop a localised swelling on their gum known as a pregnancy epulis and this usually resolves after childbirth. It may be that there is a pre-existing gum problem that becomes more evident in pregnancy and this could be gum disease. Your dentist will be able to make an accurate diagnosis.
Gum disease has been linked to preterm birth and low birth weight in some evidence, so all the more reason to clean your teeth effectively. Naturally, growing a baby takes priority at this time, but being aware of your oral health at this time is important too.
Dental Mummy’s top tips:
It is really important to practice good oral hygiene in general but particularly when you are pregnant.
- Clean your teeth thoroughly twice daily with an appropriate fluoridated toothpaste, with night time brushing being the most important time.
- Use floss and interdental brushes to clean the in-between surfaces of teeth where toothbrushes can’t reach. This can prove difficult if you have a strong gag reflex as a result of pregnancy.
- Sometimes it may help to change the time of day that you clean your teeth, perhaps not first thing in the morning as you usually would but at lunchtime and bedtime instead.
- You could try using an alcohol-free mouthwash in the morning instead. Mouthwash can also be useful if you have morning sickness, as rinsing with this or plain water will help to prevent the acid in the vomit from attacking your teeth.
- If you are sick, do not brush teeth straight away as teeth will be softened by the acid in your vomit, instead wait at least 30 minutes to brush. Sometimes milder tasting toothpastes can help if the nausea is related to the flavour rather than brushing itself.
- Restrict the amount and frequency of sugary foods and drinks, keeping them to mealtimes when possible. If you are hungry in between meals try and snack on more savoury options and whole fruit and vegetables, avoiding sugary and acidic foods. This might not always be possible during pregnancy, particularly if you have severe sickness and food aversions or cravings and are having to eat little and often. As I previously mentioned, having a healthy pregnancy takes priority, but when your sickness subsides, get back in to a healthier regime.
- Eat well – When you are pregnant you must have a healthy, balanced diet that has all the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need. Calcium is particularly important, to produce strong bones and healthy teeth. Calcium is in milk, cheese and other dairy products. Cheese is great for teeth as it returns the mouth to a more neutral environment.
- Quit smoking-stopping smoking will reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and birth and smoking is also one of the main causative factors in gum disease and oral cancers.
- Tooth whitening procedures are not recommended in pregnancy or if you are breastfeeding. Dermal Fillers and anti-wrinkle injections are also not recommended in pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding.
Where to go for dental care:
Dental care is free during pregnancy (with a valid maternity exemption card-Ask your doctor, nurse or midwife for form FW8) and for one year after your baby is born. When you go to the dentist, make sure you inform them that you are pregnant. Some of your treatment options may be different during pregnancy, and your dentist may defer some treatments until after your baby is born. Discuss with your dentist if any new or replacement fillings should be delayed until after your baby is born.
Department of Health advises that amalgam fillings shouldn’t be removed during pregnancy. Although there is no evidence that amalgam fillings are a health risk, these are not recommended during pregnancy or whilst you are breastfeeding.
If you need a routine X-ray, your dentist will usually wait until after you have had the baby, although if it is absolutely necessary the X-Ray doesn’t point towards your developing baby and is safe.
Although it is not the case that pregnancy takes calcium away from your teeth and you lose a tooth for every child you have, some of the factors above explain why our oral health can suffer in pregnancy!
It’s amazing to think that by 8 weeks pregnant, the tooth buds of baby teeth are distinguishable, and by 20 weeks, the tooth buds of your baby’s adult teeth start to develop. Baby teeth start to come through at around 6 months old, although very rarely, some babies can even be born with a tooth!