Pregnancy can cause changes to your oral health. These changes can affect your teeth and gums. Knowing what changes can occur and how to prevent them can help ensure that your mouth remains healthy throughout the duration of your pregnancy. Here are a few changes you may experience during pregnancy and how you can ensure they aren’t damaging to your teeth and gums.
Pregnancy-Induced Gingivitis
More plaque can build up on your teeth during pregnancy. If this plaque is not removed, it can begin to irritate the gums. This causes pregnancy-induced gingivitis that can cause your gums to turn red, swell or bleed when you brush them. Making sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day, use mouth wash and floss to remove all of the plaque around the gum line is the best way to prevent this from happening.
Tooth Erosion
Another issue that may occur during pregnancy is tooth or enamel erosion. This is more likely to occur if you suffer from extreme morning sickness. The acidity in your vomit wears away at the enamel on your teeth. This can cause permanent damage or discoloration to your teeth.
The best way to avoid this problem is to rinse your mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed in a cup of warm water after you get sick. This helps to clean your teeth and remove any acidity remaining in your mouth.
Increased Tooth Mobility
The last issue that can occur during pregnancy is increased tooth mobility. During pregnancy, your ligaments stretch due to hormones and the changing shape of your body. This occurs with the ligaments in your mouth as well. This may cause a tooth to wiggle or feel lose.
If you experience this feeling, visit a dentist quickly to avoid tooth lose. Additionally, avoiding hard foods if you are experiencing this problem can help ensure your tooth stays in place.
Pregnancy can affect your oral health. Knowing what changes you can expect and how to best deal with them can help ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy during the course of your pregnancy.
