Pregnant? Brush Now for Best Results!

Pregnant? Brush Now for Best Results!

Becoming a mother is undoubtedly one of the most blissful phases of womanhood. But being pregnant doesn’t mean that you have to do away with your normal oral care routine. On the contrary, pregnancy brings various health complications and your teeth and gums are no exception. At home dental care along with periodic visits to your dentist will solve most of your problems. See what oral problems can arise during pregnancy and what protective measures you can take about the same:

• Keep a Regular Tab on Bacteria Formation: Be wary about bacteria. Bacterial invasion are the root causes of all dental problems. Gums become more bacteria prone during pregnancy; hence, lack of good dental care can lead to serious complications. During pregnancy, unstable hormonal levels lead to gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. Hence, good gum care is a must during pregnancy.

• Gum Problems: Pregnancy poses a lot of unwanted threats concerning gums. Red, swollen and inflamed gums are common during this time. Many women also suffer from bleeding gums especially during the eighth month. Rush to your consultant dentist if you see even the minutest signs of gum decay or feel any irritation.

• Tumors in Gums: Pregnancy also causes tumors in gums. Infections in gums lead to bleeding gums, tooth loss and tumors. These tumors manifest in the form of lumps in gums.

• Avert Plaque and Tartars: Laziness in proper teeth cleaning and a bad oral hygiene gives birth to plaque and tartar. You can avoid them by regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, maintaining healthy oral hygiene and professional dental cleaning. Include lots of Vitamin C in your diet along with calcium supplements.

• Changes in Hormones Can Affect Teeth and Gums: Changing hormone levels during pregnancy can affect gums and teeth and this can distress the unborn baby in return. Hence, an expectant mother should watch out for pregnancy gingivitis symptoms. Your dentist might recommend non-surgical dental cleaning procedures like scaling and root planning which effectively deep cleans bacterial toxins, plaque and tartar from mouth guarding gums and teeth.

• Tooth Decay from Food: If you have a craving for sweet foods, blame it on pregnancy! Even though such yearnings are common during this time, try to curb it as much as possible. Sweet foods are the number one cause of tooth decay. The more you eat sweet foods, the greater the chance of decay. Dental research shows that dental decay genetically passes from the mother to the unborn child. Your child’s food preferences are also considerably influenced by the kind of food you consume during this time.

• Certain Toothpastes Can Cause Nausea: There are few toothpastes which cause nausea. Switch the brand if the one you are using is making you squeamish.