When you find out that you are expecting a baby, dental surgery is probably not the first drop off point for a medical on your list.
However, there have been numerous studies that have found links between better oral health in pregnancy and a reduction in issues during both pregnancy and labour. And of course, better maternal health equates to better infant health, which is always a good thing!
When you come to Apple Dental Studio, our Pinner dentist can oversee your pregnancy and will aim to alleviate any of the issues that can occur due to your fluctuating hormones or other problems that you may experience. Great stuff!
So, back to the main question that you probably have at this time, what are some of the issues that can be caused by pregnancy concerning dental care? Our Pinner dentist answers below.
Acid damage
For the first trimester of pregnancy, most women will experience morning sickness.
And that is the source of one of the most common issues that our Pinner dentist helps our pregnant patients with.
If you are experiencing morning sickness to an excess, you are likely to be at a higher risk of developing acid damage to your teeth. But, our team can help by applying fluoride sealants to your teeth to protect them against such complications. And if required, we can provide you with antibacterial mouthwash and toothpaste too, to help keep your teeth and gums in good condition.
Tooth decay
Another issue that many expectant mums experience is tooth decay.
With many mums craving high sugar or carb foods and feeling excessively tired, dental hygiene can fall by the wayside and lead to a higher incidence of tooth decay.
As we mentioned above, higher levels of acid in the mouth can also weaken the enamel, making it more susceptible to decay and damage overall. We may reduce the prevalence of tooth decay by providing you with fillings, crowns etc as needed but by also ensuring that you have plenty of antibacterial mouthwash and toothpaste to help keep bacterial levels to a minimum.
Gum disease
Following on from experiencing tooth decay, many pregnant women also notice an increase in their gum sensitivity and as many as 80% will develop gum disease of some sort.
In short, as your body changes and hormones surge, your immune system overreacts to minor levels of plaque in the mouth and thus gum disease forms.
Luckily, we can combat this by offering a scale and polish and once again, we may be able to prescribe you antibacterial mouthwash and toothpaste to help you cope. In almost all cases, gum disease that is linked to pregnancy resolves after the baby has been born.
Pregnancy granulomas
It is easy to panic when you discover a lump in your mouth but when you are pregnant, this is more common than you may think.
Pregnancy granulomas are once again caused by a surge in hormones and will usually resolve once you have had your baby. If they begin to hurt or obstruct your breathing, we can remove them under a local anaesthetic.
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