Your teeth are usually the first thing people tend to notice when they look at your face. We all strive for the Hollywood smile, you may have perfect skin and hair but without a straight white sparkle between your lips, it can affect your confidence and self image. Pregnancy affects every part of your body but can pregnancy ruin your teeth?
Can Pregnancy Ruin Your Teeth or Not?
Pregnancy hormones do affect women’s teeth, however, it does not ruin the teeth. Practicing good oral hygiene is the simple solution to this.
Does pregnancy ruin your teeth? Hormones like Progesterone released in pregnancy can affect the health of your teeth and gums. With the added cravings for sugary snacks and spells of morning sickness, our teeth are at risk of becoming brittle, decay, and gum disease. All pregnant moms should strive to keep dental checkups and seek advice if they notice issues.
Pregnancy and Your Teeth
Maintaining healthy oral hygiene during pregnancy may not seem like a big deal until you face an issue. Many women ask, does pregnancy affect your teeth?
As with any body part, pregnancy can affect everything. Even your pearly whites can’t hide from some of the side effects you may face during pregnancy.
How Does Pregnancy Affect Your Teeth?
You may have had perfectly healthy teeth all your life, then pregnancy strikes. Progesterone and other pregnancy hormones fluctuate throughout pregnancy which can cause changes to your oral health.
The hike in hormones can change your saliva and gum sensitivity meaning you are likely to see more blood when brushing and pain around the gum line.
A study conducted in 2019 researched the link between pregnancy and tooth loss and found a weak link between being pregnant and losing a tooth. Typically results found that there is usually an underlying condition that can become exacerbated with pregnancy hormones.
Common Issues
So now know that unless your dental health is poor before pregnancy you don’t generally have to be worried about waking up to find your tooth is missing. But what does pregnancy do to your teeth?
Let’s look at common issues relating to can pregnancy run your teeth.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is when your gums become inflamed. It’s an infection that if left untreated will lead to extreme gum disease. Symptoms include, pain in your gum lining, bleeding when brushing, tenderness, swelling, and redness.
Periodontal disease
If gingivitis is left untreated you may be heading toward Periodontal disease. This infection is serious and attacks the bone that supports your teeth. If extreme then your teeth will become loose and you may face an extraction. Your dentist will do everything possible to save your tooth but in some circumstances, there will be no other alternative. Periodontal disease If not rectified can cause bacteremia which is bacteria entering your bloodstream. This in turn can negatively affect your pregnancy.
Pregnancy epulis
Otherwise known as pregnancy tumors, it is important to acknowledge that it isn’t cancer. Lumps can form between your teeth and cause pain and bleeding when brushing. They are formed when there is an excess of plaque on your teeth. Thankfully they tend to disappear after your pregnancy but can be surgically removed if they are too painful.
Sensitivity
Your body has increased its blood volume, so with the extra blood your gums and teeth are more likely to become sensitive to hot and cold. The pain can last seconds or ache for a while after but usually, it disappears after pregnancy.
Tooth erosion
Your teeth are surrounded by saliva all the time so it is a given that you may find some erosion. The pH of your saliva becomes more acidic when pregnant couple this with added vomiting your stomach acids will also come into contact with your teeth. With the altered pH your tooth enamel can break down leaving your teeth vulnerable to erosion.
Weakened teeth
With damaged enamel, your teeth will become unstable and breakages are more likely. A chipped tooth is not only uncomfortable but it can damage your self confidence and in turn your mental health.
Cavities
With enamel being at risk and erosion being prominent you may find that cavities are more likely. Sugary foods are the culprit so if you are craving the odd sweet snack be sure to address your teeth to maintain their health.
Looking After Your Teeth During Pregnancy
After looking into the question, can pregnancy mess up your teeth? We have identified possible risks that can leave you without your smile. From the cosmetic side to suffering from pain and discomfort, a toothache can really get you down.
So what can you do to look after your pearly whites while making a baby?
Brushing/ flossing
Religious oral hygiene is pivotal during pregnancy, with all the changes happening in your body you must keep on top of cleaning your teeth. You should be brushing twice daily with flossing in between meals if needed. Your toothpaste needs to have good fluoride content to help strengthen your enamel. It’s worth opting for a soft bristle brush so it’s not as rough on your gum line. Personally, I have stuck to my soft bristle brush and my daughter is 14 months now.
On both of my pregnancies brushing my teeth meant sickness, I’m not sure why but brushing alone used to awaken the pregnancy sickness devil within. If you are sick then brushing immediately afterward could damage your teeth further. Being sick introduces acid into the mouth so rinse with mouthwash then retry brushing after 30 minutes.
Dental appointments
Keeping in touch with your dentist whilst pregnant can also minimize the risk of tooth decay and other problems arising in your gums. You should aim to visit your dental surgery at least twice during your pregnancy and if need be getting a routine deep clean can aid in the prevention of gingivitis.
What Signs and Symptoms Do I Look Out For?
Many times your oral health can be overlooked especially as you progress in your pregnancy. Your mind is full of planning and preparing for your soon awaited new arrival.
Here are some things to look out for:
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- New sensitivity
- Sores or lumps in your mouth
- Spaces in between teeth that are new
- Red swollen gums
- Bleeding when brushing
- Toothache or other pain
If you find one or more of these symptoms you should contact your dentist as soon as you can. Any infections that are left untreated can be harmful to your baby so never wait for treatment.
Wrapping Up
So, can pregnancy ruin your teeth? It seems a bit harsh to say ‘ruin’ but your teeth and gums are definitely affected by your pregnancy hormones and increased acidity in your mouth.
If you practice good oral hygiene by brushing and attending dental check ups your risk of infection lessens dramatically. The American Dental Association emphasizes that brushing must be completed for at least two minutes morning and night with flossing in between meals, ensuring that you use a good fluoride toothpaste.
Remember to rinse your mouth after vomiting and if brushing is making you gag talk to your dentist about alternative methods to cleaning. You need to keep an eye on those sugary foods too as cavities can creep up on you more so when pregnant.
Overall you can leave the worries about losing teeth in your nightmares, even switching to a soft bristle brush will help maintain your teeth and gum health so smile sweetheart, you are creating a life!
More to Read
- What Happens If You Don’t Eat Enough While Pregnant? – Surprising Facts
- Is My Baby Hungry When I’m Hungry During Pregnancy?
- Is It Bad To Not Take Prenatal Vitamins While Pregnant?
- It Feels Like Baby Is Shaking Inside Me! Is That Normal?
- Why Is My Pregnant Belly Soft When I Lay Down – What You Should Know
- Why Does My Pregnant Belly Look Smaller Some Days?
- Can You Crack Your Back While Pregnant – Is It Safe?
- Pregnant and Scared of Life Changing – Guide to Overcome
