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The Impact of Pregnancy on Oral Health: Essential Information for Expecting Mothers

The Impact of Pregnancy on Oral Health: Essential Information for Expecting Mothers
June 11, 2024 by admin Dental Blogs
Hormonal changes during pregnancy affect oral tissues and make people more vulnerable to dental problems, which has a substantial influence on oral health. The following are important considerations for dental health and pregnancy.

Changes in Hormones and Their Impact

Pregnancy gingivitis: Symptoms of the condition include red, swollen, and bleeding gums. It is common in expectant mothers. Elevated amounts of progesterone and oestrogen can amplify gums’ inflammatory reaction to plaque.
Periodontal Disease: During pregnancy, there is an increased risk of periodontal (or gum) disease. Preterm delivery and low birth weight are two negative pregnancy outcomes that have been connected to severe periodontal disease.

Typical Problems with Oral Health

Pregnancy Tumours: Also referred to as pyogenic granulomas, these are readily bleedable, non-cancerous growths that develop on the gums. They often appear in the second trimester and frequently go away following delivery.
Enamel erosion: Frequent vomiting brought on by morning sickness can expose teeth to stomach acids, which erode enamel.
Dry Mouth: A common condition among expectant mothers, dry mouth raises the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Dental Procedures Are Safe During Pregnancy

First Trimester: Since the baby’s organs are still growing at this time, it is advisable to postpone elective dental procedures. If necessary, the second trimester is the safest time to have dental work done.
Third Trimester: Because reclining back for extended periods can be unpleasant and perhaps dangerous, non-urgent dental procedures are frequently put off.

The importance of Dental Health for Infants

The baby’s health can be positively impacted by the mother’s dental health. Infants’ early childhood caries risk can be decreased by lowering the mother’s risk of cavities and gum disease.

Overall, the mother’s and the unborn child’s health depend on maintaining proper dental hygiene during pregnancy. For expert care and advice, consult My Smile Doctors the dental practice in Parramatta to ensure optimal oral health during this critical period.

References:
1.National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). “Oral Health Tips for Pregnant Women.”
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). “Oral Health Tips for Pregnant Women.”
3.Zeynep Yenen, Tijen Ataçağ. Oral care in pregnancy. Journal of the Turkish-German Gynecological Association [Internet]. 2019 Dec 1 [cited
2024 Jun 11];20(4):264–8. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6883753/
4. Islam B, Haque A. Pregnancy-related dental problems: A review. Heliyon [Internet]. 2024 Feb 1 [cited 2024 Jun 11];10(3):e24259–9.
Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024002901

"Healthy mum, healthy baby. A mother's well-being during pregnancy lays the foundation for her child's lifelong health and development"

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