Pregnancy is a crucial time in the lives of women. Not only do they experience the obvious physical changes but also a myriad of other changes such emotional, hormonal changes and other several other unnoticeable alterations within their body. And an important factor that revolves around pregnant women is their oral health.
Our dentists at the Bay Area explains why.
Let’s talk about the facts
The Journal of the Dental American Association has stated that over 70 percent of pregnant woman are vulnerable to develop complications in their gums. It also states that pregnant women are more susceptible to developing chronic gums diseases due to sudden inflation of hormones and eating habits.
Dentists have concluded that the significant increase in the hormone levels during pregnancy leads to swelling of the gums that result in bleeding. As their gums begin to fall off, bacterial accumulation kick starts due to rising levels of progesterone in the body. Hence, we can say that pregnant women have more risk of developing early gingivitis.
Patients need to realize that early signs of gingivitis are a dangerous situation as it can lead to severe gums problems such as periodontal disease. This disease can relate to other health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Another oral concern during pregnancy is the development of another layer of gum tissues that are purple-red in color. They are mostly seen on the line of the gums and are referred to as Pregnancy Tumors.
Dentists suggest that most of these signs will gradually fade away during the last few months of pregnancy.
Maintaining oral health during pregnancy
Our dentists advise proper oral care for pregnant women as they seem more likely to develop the risks of dental diseases. However small the symptoms may appear, proper dental care is crucial during the period of pregnancy.
Here are some tips that our dentists recommend:
Maintain a proper diet
We recommend sticking to a healthy diet consuming less component of sugar. Sugar is a major catalyst that aggravates bacterial accumulation in the teeth. It is natural for pregnant women to have a weakness for sugar, spice and sour, but we recommend to ease sugar. If the cravings are hard to put an end to, our dentists advise to have them once in a day after meals.
Regular oral hygiene routine
As we understand the importance of maintaining a good oral hygiene during those nine months, we advise our patients to stick to a regular oral hygiene routine. It is essential to have your teeth brushed and flossed twice a day.
Dental examination
We advise our beloved patients to realize the importance of informing the dentist regarding their pregnancy before commencing any procedures. Women are typically advised to avoid diagnostic evaluation especially when it requires being exposed to harmful radiation. However, our dentists advise that a checkup can be done to ensure that the patient is free from harmful bacterial or plaque. A cleansing can also be recommended just to keep the mothers-to-be on the safe side of their oral health.