During your pregnancy, it is natural for you to do everything you have a healthy nine months. You could be maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, and getting appropriate prenatal care. You may even consider giving up certain habits that you are accustomed to.
Pregnancy is not just the time to care for your overall health because your dental health also needs adequate attention. Tooth pain and sensitivity are unexpected issues during pregnancy, and therefore good dental habits and regular visits to your dentist are essential to keep your teeth clean and healthy.
How Can Pregnancy Affect Your Mouth?
Most pregnant women can expect some discomfort throughout their pregnancy. Issues like morning sickness, back pain, fatigue, and swollen feet are all expected problems. But have you realized dental issues are also pretty standard among many women? Here are the reasons why you may experience dental issues.
Your body goes through hormonal shifts during pregnancy increasing estrogen and progesterone to cause symptoms like vomiting and nausea. They are also responsible for making you vulnerable to dental plaque.
The buildup of plaque is the root cause of bleeding gums and inflammation, causing pregnancy gingivitis. This issue affects 75% of pregnant women, and if you develop it, there is no reason for you to be concerned.
Depending on the condition of pregnancy gingivitis, it may also progress to periodontal disease. This severe gum infection can destroy the bones supporting your teeth to result in tooth loss. You may even develop tumors if you have too much plaque on your teeth. However, there is no reason for concern because these are noncancerous tumors. They can, however, make it challenging for you to eat and drink because of the tenderness and pain.
Pregnancy also changes your appetite, making it perfectly reasonable for you to have certain foods. The chances of having unhealthy foods are higher to satisfy sugary or high-carbohydrate cravings. It enhances the risk of tooth decay to result in cavities.
Frequent vomiting and stomach acid in your mouth and gradually damage your tooth enamel resulting in tooth sensitivity.
What Dental Treatments Can You Have during Pregnancy?
Whether you are affected by a toothache, mouth pain, tender gums, or sores, the discomfort does not have to be a concerning issue.
If you have a toothache that isn’t subsiding, you must see the Mesa dentist immediately without forgetting to mention you are pregnant. Specific dental procedures and access are safe during pregnancy, depending on what term you are in this sensitive time. Your dentist will recommend some treatments be delayed until the second trimester.
If you need a filling or root canal, you will be recommended to delay the procedure because a root canal may need IV sedation if you are fearful of dental visits. Avoiding the root canal altogether is not an option because it will compel you to undergo a severe procedure like tooth extraction when you are pregnant.
Local Anesthesia and Other Safe Treatment during Pregnancy
Certain types of x-rays are perfectly safe during pregnancy, just as local anesthesia in the second trimester. Dentists do not recommend extractions during pregnancy until the second trimester because they cannot be performed without anesthesia. The vital organs of the baby develop during the third trimester, lowering the risk of side effects even when dentists delay some procedures.
Do Dentists Recommend Extraction during Pregnancy?
As mentioned earlier, dentists do not recommend extractions during pregnancy until the second trimester when it is safer to administer local anesthesia without increasing the risk of a miscarriage.
Routine dental cleanings will not harm your baby, and therefore you can continue to schedule your meetings with your dentist without breaks. Getting your teeth cleaned will prevent the buildup of plaque to lessen sensitivity and leave you with a healthy mouth. The cleaning also helps treat pregnancy gingivitis, and your dentist may recommend getting your teeth cleaned every three months instead of six.
If you develop a tumor on your gums and interfere with eating, the dentist may consider removing it during the third trimester as the procedure requires local anesthesia. Tooth extractions because of a tumor causing pain and sensitivity can also be accomplished in the third trimester.
How to Prevent Dental Issues during Pregnancy?
You would want to minimize the risk of dental issues during pregnancy with all the other problems you encounter. If you intend to succeed, you should begin practicing excellent oral hygiene habits that are incredibly important because of the risk of developing dental issues. Here are some tips to help you:
Be mindful of your oral hygiene routine.
Rinse out your mouth after vomiting and drink plenty of water.
Limit carbohydrates and sugary foods.
Inform your dentist that you are pregnant to understand whether you can benefit from more cleanings.
Be aware of the problems you can expect during pregnancy because it will help you prepare for the same and take appropriate actions wherever necessary.