This topic may not be for everybody, but it’s an important topic to touch up on.
If you’re expecting or planning for pregnancy, you might be best leaving any dental appointments out during that 9 months.
Don’t rule a visit to your dentist out completely though; pregnancy can affect your hormones which can lad to an increased risk of gum disease, and dental emergencies unfortunately do happen to those who are pregnant.
Oral health affectsyour overall health, which in turn can affect the health of your baby. During Pregnancy you should consider the following possible problems.
- Tooth Decay – During pregnancy, your mouth increases in acidity. This raises the risk of tooth decay. Morning sickness can make this even worse, as it mainly consists of gastric acid.
- Loose Teeth – Even in the absence of gum disease, you could suffer from loose teeth. Pregnancy increases the levels of progesterone and estrogen, which can affect the ligaments and bones supporting your teeth.
- Gum disease – Gum disease is quite scary compared to the other two; in severe cases it may be associated with pre-term birth and low birth weight. It can be caused by the hormonal changes in pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant and worried about your oral hygiene, you should contact your dentist for the best advice, for you to have a great pregnancy and a happy, healthy baby at the end of it.