Pregnancy is a wonderful and exciting time in your life, and with so much going on, you may put dental visits to the bottom of your list. However, with the hormone changes, your dental health changes too and so it’s important to keep on top of it to prevent problems down the track.
Here is a list of changes you might notice in your mouth, and how you can manage them.
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Hormone changes can cause gum irritability so it’s important to give your gums some extra TLC during this time. This means brushing regularly with a soft toothbrush and flossing to stimulate your gums.
It’s also important to bump (haha) up the care for your gums as gum disease can cause your baby to have a low birth weight or be born prematurely.
Morning Sickness
This is a common symptom of pregnancy, but having that acid from your stomach in your mouth, can quickly cause erosion, meaning, teeth thin, chip and become sensitive.
To combat this, make sure that if you do get sick, you wash your mouth out with water as soon as possible to get rid of that acid, wait at least thirty minutes to brush your teeth, and chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva flow and neutralise your mouth.
Acid Reflux
Like morning sickness, acid reflux can cause erosion. Make sure you drink plenty of water to keep your mouth free of acid.
Raspberry Gums
Some women experience little raspberry-like growths between their teeth (most commonly in the second trimester) which are caused by the hormonal changes in their bodies. They are not harmful at all but maybe slightly uncomfortable. Some women choose to have them removed by a dentist, however, they will generally go away on their own after birth.
Visit your dentist
Your dentist will be there to answer all your questions and provide guidance for you and your little one. Make sure you book in to have a check-up and a chat so you know what’s happening inside your mouth!
