Can Pregnancy Affect Your Oral Health?

Yes, pregnancy can have a significant impact on your oral health. Your teeth and gums can all be affected by your changing eating habits, the rapid rise and fall of various hormones, and more.

Read on to learn how you can protect  your oral health from gum disease, tooth decay, and other problems you may have during pregnancy. Feel free to contact Dr. Rima Patel or Dr. Thomas Marchman if you need to request an appointment to get any questions you may have answered.

One oral health problem pregnant women face is their teeth being more vulnerable to cavities. Due to morning sickness, vomiting is more common during pregnancy, and this brings up stomach acid that erodes tooth enamel.

Dietary changes are another significant cause of tooth decay. This can expose your teeth to sugary and acidic foods you weren’t previously eating, but now you may be craving them. Because your teeth are a heightened risk for decay, you should try to avoid foods that are worse for your teeth if possible. These include:

Pregnant women will likely experience an early stage of gum disease (gingivitis) at some point in their pregnancy, which can cause bleeding and swelling. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, this may be due to aggravation from changes in hormones. The effects of gingivits are reversible. However, this is not true for advanced gum disease known as periodontitis.

The first step to protecting your teeth and gums is communicating that you are pregnant with your dentist and from there they can give you specific instructions on what would be best for you. They may recommend scheduling more than one appointment every 6 months to keep a better watch on the condition of your teeth and gums.

Brushing your teeth may potentially make you gag. It might be the flavor of your toothpaste or how much it foams up. you can try a different flavor and brand to see if that helps. Also, flossing and using a fluoride mouthwash become more important during pregnancy because both of these can reach areas that your toothbrush will miss.

Professional attention and cleaning can help you maintain good oral health during pregnancy. To request an appointment with Dr. Rima Patel or Dr. Thomas Marchmen, call our Serenbe office at (678) 800-0910. At Dental Wellness at Serenbe, we aim to make your appointments comfortable and productive so we can help you have the smile you love.