Teeth during pregnancy – what problems expectant mothers face

Teeth during pregnancy, perhaps, more than all other organs and systems of the female body are subjected to various kinds of tests. However, the “size of the disaster” will be largely determined by what their condition was before the conception of the child. As we know, pregnancy acts as a catalyst for various negative processes that occur in the oral cavity.

So, if a woman poorly observes hygiene of their teeth, for example, brushing them wrong, irregularly, this situation itself will be a trigger for all kinds of diseases of the oral cavity. The onset of pregnancy will only accelerate these pathological changes. A similar situation occurs if, for example, before pregnancy the woman suffered from periodontitis, had mild tooth decay or other problems related to the oral cavity – pregnancy will manifest these negative processes much more actively.

The effect of pregnancy on dental health

To understand how to save teeth during pregnancy, it is important to understand the changes that occur in the woman’s body after conception, the causes that lead to deplorable consequences in the absence of sufficient care. First of all, these are hormonal shifts. The amount of progesterone and estrogen hormones, which have immunosuppressive properties (immunosuppression), changes significantly. This leads to an increase in plaque on the gum and teeth.

The mucous membrane of the mouth becomes easily wounded, which bleeds at the slightest touch. Any trauma increases the risk of inflammation after infection. More “aggressive” microorganisms appear in the composition of the microflora. The amount, composition of saliva also changes and contributes to the development of tooth decay. The protective function of saliva decreases due to the change of pH and the increase of its acidity from 6.7 to 6.2.

Dental care during pregnancy, prevention of caries

To prevent the negative consequences of the restructuring of the body of the future mother, so that she does not have to undergo dental treatment during pregnancy, certain rules must be followed:

• At the planning stage of pregnancy, undergo a complete sanitation of the oral cavity.
• Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day with sweeping movements, using medium-hard brushes, unless the doctor has recommended otherwise.
• To clean the interdental spaces after brushing, floss 1-2 times a day.
• In order to improve oral hygiene use toothpaste with fluoride concentration of 1000-1500ppm, you can use irrigator.
• Eat 5-6 times a day with snacks and reduce carbohydrate intake.
• Use mouthwashes when brushing your teeth when vomiting.
• Have regular preventive check-ups that allow the doctor to see the problem early and help to correct it.

Is Treatment During Pregnancy Possible

Answering the question so often asked by women in the position of whether it is possible to treat teeth during pregnancy, dentists give an authoritative opinion that they do not see any obstacles to such procedures during pregnancy. Of course, if there is an urgent need and a professional approach to solving problems with painful teeth during pregnancy. Experts recommend to women planning pregnancy to take care of this issue before conception and to visit the dentist’s office.

However, if the need arose during the period of carrying the baby, then you should by no means ignore it. Postponing treatment “for a long time”, pregnant women can face serious consequences. Starting from loss of teeth and ending with pathologies of the teeth, bones of the jaw and complicated infections.

What procedures are acceptable

Experts believe that not only can, but also need to treat teeth during pregnancy. Among the dental diseases that must be treated in this “delicate” position are such ailments as gum inflammation, cavities, periodontitis, pulpitis, stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis. You should also not put off going to the dentist and should seek help immediately if you have an injury. For example, if there is a chip or fracture of the tooth root, if there are cracks or if you need urgent surgical intervention because of an abscess developing, in periostitis, or in other similar cases.

It is also possible to get a filling, so don’t put it off until after the baby is born. When filling, the doctor can use any materials that are appropriate for the indication. The bulbs used for curing are harmless to the fetus. The dentist anesthetizes all procedures with quality medications approved for use during this period.

What manipulations will have to be postponed

The threat of pregnancy termination is the main contraindication to dental treatment during pregnancy. However, there are a number of dental procedures that you will have to refuse until the baby is born. Orthodontic treatment is contraindicated. The installation of braces must be postponed, and if they were previously installed, treatment continues with increased requirements for monitoring the condition of the tooth enamel and hygiene. Teeth should not be whitened – the contraindication is due to the fact that the procedure may be aggressive for the enamel of teeth, which is weakened by pregnancy.

During this period, a woman’s body uses the lion’s share of nutrients for the formation and development of the baby. Due to this, many expectant mothers have a deficiency of calcium in the body, resulting in a decrease in the strength of hard dental tissues. To whiten teeth in such a state of enamel – means to seriously damage their health.

What other taboos exist?

You should try to avoid tooth extraction during pregnancy, unless it is an emergency. We are talking about the third molar, dystopian or unerupted tooth, if there are no complications, discomfort. The decision to extract a tooth during pregnancy is made in exceptional cases – in the presence of severe pain, inflammation, when restorations and adequate treatment are impossible. This occurs when saving the tooth can cause more harm to the health of the mother and child than extraction.

CT scanning is also not performed during pregnancy, since ionizing radiation is dangerous for the fetus. Dental implants should also be delayed. The contraindication is related to the need for a CT scan for implants, extensive surgery with the use of strong anesthetics. A number of local anesthesia drugs and general anesthesia are also ruled out.

Dental problems occurring during pregnancy

One of the dental problems that pregnant women face is toothache, which can be caused by tooth decay. In this case, in the early stages, the destruction of teeth is almost painless or the process is accompanied by a slight pain. It is usually felt when eating hot, cold food or drinks, sweet or sour products, when brushing your teeth. Another cause of pain is increased tooth sensitivity due to cracked or thinning enamel.

Wisdom teeth can be painful because of pulpitis. This problem involves inflammation of the soft tooth tissue where the nerve is located. Pain from wisdom tooth pulpitis occurs unexpectedly, with pain in the ear or temple. Painful teeth during pregnancy and periodontitis, when the tissue behind the root apex is inflamed, causing fistula formation, pain on biting, swelling of the lip and cheek, and discharge of pus.

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Crumbling teeth – causes, how to prevent

In addition to the fact that pregnant women can experience toothache while carrying a child, they may have another unpleasant problem – their teeth begin to crumble.

This situation can occur due to a lack of calcium in the body of the expectant mother. The fetus is constantly developing, and the mother’s body directs to its formation this trace element in large quantities.

Especially acutely felt its deficit during the creation of the skeleton of the unborn child. And, of course, the teeth of pregnant women are also damaged, because hormonal restructuring in her body can affect the condition of the teeth. Therefore, to replenish the “supply” of an important mineral during the period of carrying the baby, it is necessary to include cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt and other dairy products in the diet.

Peculiarities of dental treatment in the first trimester

The choice of treatment methods and how, if necessary, to anesthetize dental procedures, is not least based on the timing in which they have to be carried out. In the 1st trimester, which lasts up to and including the 12th week, all the vital systems in the body of the baby are being laid. The placenta at this stage is not fully formed, so it cannot reliably protect the fetus from the influence of external factors.

The woman’s body is also in the process of radical restructuring. Any stress, interference, medications can have a negative effect on the development of pregnancy, as well as on the health of the baby. That is why in the 1st trimester, teeth are mainly treated using non-invasive therapeutic methods.

What can and cannot be treated in the 1st trimester

If a woman, carrying a child, seeks dental care, the dentist, while choosing the method of treatment, puts the main emphasis not only on the urgency or danger of the situation, but also on the fact that the 1st trimester is a special time in the development of pregnancy. That is why the doctor rules out the use of medications, surgery and anesthesia if possible. If you cannot do without treatment, treatment methods should be as sparing as possible.

He treats early stage caries by using ICON technology, makes preparations for small cavities and fills teeth without anesthesia. Prophylactic measures (professional hygiene) are recommended regardless of the term. The dentist selects the safest tools and medications for the patient taking into account her situation.

2nd trimester: indications, contraindications

As is known, the 2nd trimester is the period from 13th to 24th week of pregnancy. This is the safest and calmest period for both the mother and the baby. Its development occurs progressively, smoothly. Therefore, patients who need caries treatment, professional hygiene measures and other dental procedures are scheduled for this period.

This is due to the fact that a reliable protection for the fetus in the form of a formed placenta, is already created. Pregnant woman’s health allows for the required time in the dentist’s chair, and the period of high risk of miscarriage is already behind us. During this period, all scheduled procedures are performed – wisdom teeth are treated, as well as ailments that threaten to aggravate in the near future, professional cleanings are performed.

Third trimester

If a woman has painful teeth during pregnancy in the late terms – this is a serious problem, because during this period, most dental manipulations are contraindicated. The period from 25 weeks until delivery, as well as the first trimester of pregnancy, is not an easy time for the expectant mother. Difficulties are connected with the increased susceptibility of the placenta to external factors, and serious strains on the female body.

Indication for treatment of teeth during pregnancy in the third trimester are only acute conditions that can cause considerable damage to the health of the child and the future mother. Pain relief manipulations are not allowed, it is contraindicated to tolerate pain for pregnant women, so therapeutic treatment, routine procedures, operations, will need to be postponed for a time after delivery. Even if the tooth has fallen out, the restoration of the integrity of the tooth row will have to wait, and teeth will have to be inserted after the baby is born.

Folk remedies for pain

Women during pregnancy experience tooth damage for well-known reasons, which is manifested by painful symptoms of varying severity. Pregnant women care about the safety of the fetus, so it makes sense to use folk remedies for toothache, for example:

• “Tooth drops” – contain natural substances – mint oil, valerian, camphor. The pain will gradually begin to subside if a cotton swab soaked in this solution is placed on the painful tooth. The preparation is an excellent sedative and antiseptic.
• Clove powder – if you sprinkle it on the inflamed area of the gum, the pain will begin to decrease.
• Herbal infusions, decoctions – to prepare a rinse use St. John’s wort, chamomile apothecary, calendula, plantain, sage. You can use the usual saline solution. Before using a small amount of the solution or decoction, it is desirable to warm it up slightly. Gargle as often as possible.

Non-medicinal means of eliminating toothache

In addition, if a pregnant woman has crumbling teeth, periodic painful sensations, in the fight against them can help:

• House plants, such as pelargonium, aloe, and calanhoe. A piece of a leaf from any of the plants is pressed to the sore area peeled to release the juice.
• Garlic – can be used in 2 ways. In the first method, it is recommended to crush a slice of garlic, achieve a mushy state, then apply a small amount of this substance to the wrist, in the place where the veins stand out. If the toothache is noted on the right, the mush is applied to the left wrist; when the pain manifests itself on the left – to the right. The second option involves applying a piece of garlic directly to the sore gum.

Medicines used to eliminate toothache

If folk methods were powerless, it is possible to pain the bothering area with the help of relatively safe drugs. However, it is still worth getting your doctor’s permission to take them:

• Children’s gels for toothache – Camistad, Calgel, Dentol baby, dulling the pain, fighting inflammation, cooling the painful area.
• No-shpa – effective for intestinal, stomach cramps, headaches, toothaches.
• Grippostad – the remedy is designed to fight colds, but also copes well with toothache. It is contraindicated in the first trimester of pregnancy.
• Paracetamol – you will need to take one whole tablet.
• Pentalgin, Tempalgin – the analgesic effect is achieved by taking half a tablet of any of these remedies.

For very severe toothache, one tablet of the drug Ketanova is allowed.