Yes, pregnancy can have a significant impact on your oral health. Your teeth and gums can all be affected by your changing eating habits, the rapid rise and fall of various hormones, and more.
Read on to learn how you can protect your oral health from gum disease, tooth decay, and other problems you may have during pregnancy. Feel free to contact Dr. Stephanie Busch-Abbate if you need to request an appointment to get any questions you may have answered.
More Vulnerable to Cavities
One oral health problem pregnant women face is their teeth being more vulnerable to cavities. Due to morning sickness, vomiting is more common during pregnancy, and this brings up stomach acid that eats away at your teeth.
Dietary changes are another significant cause of tooth decay. This can expose your teeth to sugary and acidic foods you weren’t previously eating, but now you may be craving them. Because your teeth are at heightened risk for decay, you should try to avoid foods that are worse for your teeth if possible. These include:
- Hard, chewy, and/or sour candy
- Potato chips and white bread
- Anything pickled
- Citrus and dried fruits
- Carbonated drinks
More Vulnerable Gums
Pregnant women will likely experience an early stage of gum disease (gingivitis) at some point in their pregnancy. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, this may be due to . The effects of gingivitis are reversible. However, this is not true for advanced gum disease known as periodontitis.
Protecting Your Teeth & Gums
The first step to protecting your teeth and gums is communicating that you are pregnant with your dentist and from there they can give you specific instructions on what would be best for you. They may recommend scheduling more than one appointment every 6 months to keep a better watch on the condition of your teeth and gums.
Brushing your teeth may potentially make you gag. It might be the flavor of your toothpaste or how much it foams up. You can try a different flavor and brand to see if that helps. Also, flossing and using a fluoride mouthwash become more important during pregnancy because both of these can reach areas that your toothbrush will miss.
Request an Appointment
Professional attention and cleaning can help you maintain good . To request an appointment with Dr. Stephanie Busch-Abbate, call our Kalamazoo office at (269) 381-3890. At Gentle Dentistry, we aim to make your appointments comfortable and productive so we can help you have a smile you love.