My grandmother used to say: "Every pregnancy costs the mother a tooth". Fortunately, there is no longer any reason for this today because we now know a lot more about healthy dental care and prophylactic measures. However, both remain particularly important for you during pregnancy!
Today, expectant mothers are usually very well supplied with nutrients such as vitamins, calcium and minerals. These are important building blocks for your dental health during pregnancy. You can find out more about important nutrients during pregnancy on my blog here.
Despite the very best diet, the fact remains: your body is in an exceptional state during pregnancy. This also applies to your teeth and gums. For example, the pregnancy hormones ensure that your mucous membrane is now supplied with more blood and the tissue becomes looser. This response from your body is good for you and your child, but can also lead to bleeding and inflammation of the gums more quickly.
Paying attention to your dental care during pregnancy is also important for your baby. Unrecognised inflammation can reach your baby and lead to premature birth.
But don't worry, because you can control the health of your teeth and gums even during pregnancy if you follow a few rules:
1. Brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day for good dental health during pregnancy
This should continue to be a matter of course for you. Feel free to use toothpaste containing flouride, as it ensures strong tooth enamel. It is best to use a soft toothbrush and brush the backs and fronts of your teeth from "red" (gums) to "white" (towards the crown) as usual. Don't forget the chewing surfaces! Dental floss and interdental brushes, which are available in different sizes, are best for cleaning the spaces between the teeth.
Careful care of the oral cavity also includes cleaning the tongue once a day after brushing the teeth. This is because food residues and bacteria also like to collect on the rough surface of this organ - with negative consequences for the teeth.
Use a tongue brush and some toothpaste if necessary to clean your tongue. Use this to gently run your tongue from back to front and back again to loosen the coating and all the culprits. Finally, use a tongue scraper to scrape over the surface from back to front. Start as far back as possible, as this is where most of the bacteria are located. Now rinse your mouth - and you're done.
Why so much effort? It's simple: if you always clean your oral cavity thoroughly, you will rid it of bacteria all round. This also removes bacterial plaque. If this doesn't happen, the bacteria and their metabolic products can attack teeth and gums. This often results in tooth decay or gum inflammation, which can develop into inflammation of the gums (periodontitis). This could even increase the risk of premature birth. This is because it is suspected that the inflammatory substances that constantly enter the bloodstream can trigger premature labour.
2. Do a mouthwash after vomiting during pregnancy
You may be struggling with nausea in the first few weeks of your pregnancy. If this makes you vomit, you want to get rid of the unpleasant taste in your mouth as quickly as possible. That's understandable - but please don't grab your toothbrush! This is because the stomach acid that washes around your teeth when you vomit attacks the tooth enamel. If you "scrub" the crowns of your teeth, you would brush away important crystals from the enamel. It is therefore better to use a mouthwash containing flouride, which quickly removes the bad taste.
3. With good nutrition against tooth decay & co
A healthy, balanced diet Nutrition also promotes your dental health during pregnancy. This includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as sufficient wholemeal and dairy products. This is not only good for you and your baby, but also for all the "organs" in your oral cavity.
Chocolate, cakes and other sweet treats, on the other hand, are not exactly among the top ten healthy foods. But pregnant women in particular are familiar with this sometimes irrepressible desire for sweets! You can give in to it, no problem. However, for the sake of your teeth, I would advise you to only snack once a day and brush your teeth afterwards. This is definitely healthier than snacking all the time and putting your teeth under constant strain. The same also applies to sugary drinks.
4. Two dental check-ups during pregnancy
Preventive care during pregnancy also includes two check-ups at your dental practice. Ideally, you should schedule these in your fourth and eighth month of pregnancy.
If you still need to have a longer "session" on the unpopular chair, the second trimester is best suited for this. This is because it will be more comfortable for you if you don't have a round belly in the way. If you need a local anaesthetic for this, it's no problem: it won't harm your baby.
Even if you still have amalgam fillings in your mouth, you don't need to worry: they are generally harmless. So don't have them replaced now, because pregnancy is not a good time for that. You should avoid any unnecessary procedures during this time. Of course, this also applies to x-rays.
5. Professional teeth cleaning during pregnancy
This removes soft and hard plaque and also cleans hard-to-reach areas between the teeth and at the gum line. Once everything is sparkling clean, the teeth are then polished to smooth their surfaces so that bacteria can adhere less easily in future. Finally, the dental crowns are usually "painted" with fluoride gel or varnish to protect the enamel.
Long story short: With careful oral and dental hygiene, you are not only taking good care of yourself, but also of your baby!
