Recommendations for dental care during pregnancy

Is it true that teeth break down due to pregnancy?

You may need to visit the dentist more often during pregnancy, but not because the baby “takes” the calcium or the mother’s teeth. No substances are removed from the teeth during pregnancy. Teeth decay for much simpler reasons. During pregnancy, there is more snacking and indulging in treats, which creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria in the mouth, which causes tooth decay. Therefore, it is recommended to brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth with lukewarm water after eating.

During pregnancy, hormonal changes have a big impact on a woman’s body. Teeth and gums are no exception. During pregnancy, the gums can become more sensitive and gingivitis is more common. If your gums become sensitive and bleed when you brush your teeth, you should see a specialist.

Many women in the first trimester of pregnancy face morning nausea. Frequent vomiting damages the teeth, because the acids in the stomach gnaw the layer of the upper enamel of the tooth, as a result of which the teeth become much more sensitive and can begin to decay.

It is important to remember that bacteria that attack gums and teeth can travel through the blood system to the fetus and cause complications or even miscarriage and premature birth. As a result, dentists insist on remembering to properly take care of your oral hygiene.

Good dental hygiene is especially important during pregnancy. To prevent the formation of plaque, teeth should be thoroughly cleaned twice a day. Brushing your teeth is recommended in the morning after breakfast and after the last meal in the evening before bedtime. For some pregnant women, brushing your teeth causes unpleasant sensations, so if you feel nauseous when cleaning with a toothbrush, try using a soft toothbrush designed for children.

To maintain healthy teeth during pregnancy, it is important not only to properly care for them, but also to eat them properly. A balanced diet helps to avoid problems with enamel damage, thereby reducing the likelihood of developing caries. In addition, the full-fledged nutrition of the expectant mother also has a great influence on the health of the teeth of the future child, which ensures good formation of the rudiments of the teeth of the fetus, mineralization. A expectant mother is recommended to eat as many fruits, vegetables, dairy products, fish, lean meat, less processed, canned food as possible. Vitamins D, A, B, C, phosphorus and calcium are extremely important in the diet.

Expectant moms are sometimes too fond of sweets, and bacteria in the mouth break down sugar and secrete acids on the surface of the tooth. This is how the melting of enamel begins, favourable conditions arise for the development of tooth decay. Therefore, sweet products should be avoided, and after tasting them, brush your teeth thoroughly.

Dentists recommend:

  • Observe proper oral hygiene. Brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day with a soft brush. For the first time, it would be recommended to visit the dentist in the first trimester of pregnancy.
  • Tooth treatment is recommended until pregnancy. However, if you have not had time to do this, it is safest to carry out dental procedures at 4-6 months of pregnancy.
  • It is recommended to perform an x-ray of the mouth during pregnancy only in exceptional cases
  • Choose a well-balanced diet supplemented with calcium so that everything you need to preserve healthy teeth is obtained with food.
  • Avoid sweet foods.
  • Give up bad habits.

For nursing women, oral hygiene is very important. During this period, it is worth paying attention to nutrition, since the body of a nursing woman consumes many important substances for milk production. It is recommended to visit the dentist, he will carry out professional oral hygiene, examine the teeth and, if necessary, prescribe special measures (reducing sensitivity, restoring calcium in the teeth, etc.).

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