Neglecting Oral Care During Pregnancy Could Spur Preterm Labor
For many women, pregnancy is a time of profound changes. From choosing names to deciding on work and childcare options, there are plenty of decisions to be made. But there are many physical changes going on, too. Pregnancy hormones have been known to do some very strange things to the body, from hair loss, strange food cravings, morning sickness and insomnia, growing another person can take a big toll on your body. One area of the body that studies have increasingly shown needs extra TLC during pregnancy is the mouth. In fact, caring for your mouth during pregnancy doesn’t just affect the mother’s health, it can affect the baby’s health too.
According to a study by the Department of Health of HKSAR in China, pregnancy hormones can cause gum inflammation called pregnancy-associated gingivitis that may increase the risk of periodontal disease in pregnant women. Worse still, according to Bellmore, New York dentist Dr. Gary Lederman, periodontal disease doesn’t just affect the pregnant mother, it can have dangerous consequences for the unborn baby, too.
"Pregnancy-associated gingivitis and periodontitis in the mother can be very harmful to unborn babies," said Lederman. "It can cause preterm labor and low birth weight in babies, and it also increases the baby’s risk of developing tooth decay later in life."
This is because according to studies, pregnant mothers can pass the bacteria that causes tooth decay directly to the gestating baby via the food she eats while pregnant.
"Believe it or not, this is one of the main causes of tooth decay in children today," said Lederman.
Other oral health problems pregnant women should be wary of is acid erosion due to morning sickness and acid reflux.
"Acid and teeth are a bad combination," said Lederman "Acid can eat away at tooth enamel and increase your need for a root canal. It can also cause dry mouth, and leave your teeth more susceptible to cavities and tooth decay."
That’s why Lederman says pregnant women should pay extra close attention to their oral health during pregnancy. If you experience vomiting from morning sickness, be sure to rinse your mouth well immediately afterward. As for regular oral health exams, Lederman says you should absolutely keep your dental appointments while pregnant. All regular procedures can be conducted on pregnant women, but skip any extras like whitening treatments and X-rays until after you have given birth and are no longer breastfeeding.
"There’s a rumor out there that dental care isn’t safe during pregnancy, and nothing could be further from the truth," said Lederman. "Just make sure that you let your dentist know prior to beginning your exam if you are pregnant or could be pregnant so we can take extra precautions."
