Pregnancy Awareness Includes A Healthy Mouth!
Moms-to-be need dental care for themselves and for baby
May is pregnancy awareness month, so it’s a great time talk about the importance of dental health during pregnancy. Why? Because taking care of your teeth while pregnant can affect your health and your baby’s health.
The state of Massachusetts took notice when the surgeon general identified oral diseases as the silent epidemic of the United States in 2000. Since then, the department of public health, the Maternal and Child Health Program, and others have worked to improve dental health among pregnant women and children. Part of that is integrating dental care into routine prenatal care in Massachusetts. And in March, the group released these guidelines for dentists providing care to pregnant women and children.
Data show that women in Massachusetts are much less likely to obtain dental care during pregnancy than before pregnancy. Yet, nationwide the number of pregnant women going to the dentist is on the rise. As the guidelines note, the physical and physiological changes that occur with pregnancy can adversely affect the mouth.
Because of increased hormones, it’s common for pregnant women to develop “pregnancy gingivitis,” an inflammation of the gums and surrounding tissues characterized by redness, swelling, tenderness and bleeding. Professional cleanings will help keep conditions like this in check.
Left untreated, gingivitis may progress to periodontal disease, which could destroy both soft and hard tissues. Some evidence shows that women with generalized moderate-to-severe periodontal disease may be at higher risk for delivering pre-term, low-birth weight babies.
Pregnant women are also at high risk for cavities due to the increased gastric acid in their mouths from morning sickness and other conditions. If you are pregnant with cavities, you could pass cavity-causing bacteria to your baby. Other causes of cavities during pregnancy include getting too little fluoride, eating a lot of sugary food or drinks, and missing your dental care.
Some women may also develop “pregnancy tumors,” which are really just swelling between the teeth that could be related to excess plaque. These spots can bleed and look red and raw. While they usually disappear after your baby is born, you should still talk to your dentist about them.
These are a few of the dental health issues you may have during pregnancy. The most important thing to remember is you can—and should—see your dentist. You may have heard that pregnant women should postpone dental work until after the baby arrives, but waiting to get infections taken care of can actually cause more damage. If you have a problem, talk to your dentist about it now, don’t wait!