Why Good Oral Health Is Important in Expectant Mothers

The journey to becoming a mother is an experience unlike any other. It’s a combination of happiness because you’re about to give birth to a cute little angel, and fear—because you want everything to go well.

Your body goes through a lot of physical and psychological changes during pregnancy. You might begin to experience swelling, bleeding, and inflammation in your gums. In fact, just a normal task like brushing your teeth might make you nauseous and lose appetite. To avoid the constant nausea, you may even skip flossing and brushing your teeth, which may lead to several health issues. All this paired with drastic hormonal changes can be detrimental for your oral health, as well as the baby’s health.
To bless your to-be-born baby with excellent oral health, you first need to take care of your own oral hygiene, as advised in the Oral Health During Pregnancy and Early Childhood: EvidenceBased Guidelines. The more you neglect your oral care, the more you put your baby’s health at risk. According to research, out of every 100 preterm births, 18 are likely to be caused due to periodontal disease. 
Here is a list of some serious dental issues that you can easily avoid if you take care of your oral hygiene.

Tooth Decay

Even if you’re not expecting, cavities can form and tooth decay can occur if bacterial growth in your mouth isn’t controlled. However, pregnant women are at a higher risk of tooth decay because of hormonal changes, more bleeding, and gum inflammation.
Some more reasons why you’re more susceptible to tooth decay during pregnancy are:
  • You crave more for sugary and spicy food items and beverages—mostly in the middle of the night.
  • You skip your oral care routine more often.
  • Morning sickness and acidity exposes your teeth to increased levels of acid.  

Abscess or Pregnancy Tumors

Growth of excessive tissues in the gums is common among to-be-moms who are in the fourth month of their pregnancy. Pregnancy tumors are not a sign of cancer or any other harmful disease, but they can cause discomfort while eating and can also be painful. To prevent formation of abscess, make sure you’re preventing plaque formation by thoroughly brushing twice a day and flossing regularly. Even though these tumors vanish themselves after the child is born, but it’s still advised to see a dentist.

Pregnancy Gingivitis (Gum Disease)

Hormonal shifts during motherhood may often result in inflammation and swelling of gums that may bleed while brushing or flossing. According to CDC, up to 75 percent of expectant moms struggle with this condition as their pregnancy progresses. If you notice these symptoms, you may have developed Pregnancy Gingivitis that must be treated before it becomes severe.
Give yourself some top-quality periodontal maintenance from the leading family dentists in Germantown, MD, at Advanced Dental Center. We offer a range of dental services in our comfortable and home-like facility.
To schedule an appointment, call now at (301) 353-8890!

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