There’s lots to think about if you’re planning to have a baby, but it’s important not to neglect your routine dental care. While pregnancy itself doesn’t harm teeth and gums, hormone changes and other effects of pregnancy can cause damage and lead to other concerns.
Visiting a dentist before and during your pregnancy, and taking good care of your oral health at home, can help lower the risks for you and your child. Read this guide to dental care during pregnancy to find out the best time to visit to the dentist, common concerns, and how to avoid problems.
If you need personal advice, or you’re ready to book a check-up, get in touch with our Gold Coast dentists today.
Is it safe to visit the dentist if I’m pregnant?
Some people worry about visiting the dental clinic while pregnant, but avoiding visits during this critical time could put you at risk if you develop a problem that goes untreated. Your dentist may even suggest making several visits if they’re helping you to manage an ongoing problem such as gum disease or an infection.
It’s important to let your dentist know if you’re pregnant so they can take extra precautions during your visit, particularly with regard to x-rays. Modern dental x-rays use a very low radiation dose and are considered safe, but your dentist will still make sure your abdomen is protected from exposure when taking necessary x-rays of your mouth or jaw to help with diagnosis and treatment planning.
You should also inform your dentist about any medication or supplements you’re taking that could impact on your oral health or eligibility for certain treatments.
When can I see a dentist during pregnancy?
Dental check-ups, preventive treatments, and most general and emergency dentistry procedures can be performed at any stage of pregnancy. If it’s already been over 6 months since your last routine dental check-up, it’s not recommended to delay it further, or you could put yourself at risk.
Some people find that visiting during the second trimester (third to fifth months of pregnancy) is the most comfortable time. This is because issues such as morning sickness and mouth sensitivity tend to be more common in the first trimester, while sitting in the dentist chair may be less comfortable in the third trimester, when the baby is larger.
Dentists may sometimes recommend having a treatment prior to pregnancy as a preventive measure, such as extracting a problematic wisdom tooth that may cause problems if the gums become swollen. Treatments that are not considered urgent, such as teeth whitening and other elective cosmetic dentistry procedures, should wait until after pregnancy, to avoid having to deal with any possible complications.
If you need to see a dentist in Robina, contact our team today.
How does pregnancy affect oral health?
Changes in hormones, daily habits and pregnancy side effects can increase your risk of developing oral health problems during pregnancy. These include:
Tooth decay
Cravings for sweet foods are common during pregnancy, but consuming too much sugar increases the risk of tooth decay and cavities forming. This happens when bacteria build up on the teeth to form plaque, and convert sugars and other carbohydrates into acids that wear down tooth enamel. Frequently snacking or sipping sugary drinks throughout the day exposes the teeth to repeated acid attacks and can accelerate decay.
To lower your risk of tooth decay, try to swap sugary foods and drinks for healthier options, particularly those rich in beneficial vitamins and minerals for teeth, such as calcium, phosphorus and vitamins A, D and K. Eating snacks at meal times rather than spreading them out and rinsing your mouth with water can also help to reduce the damage.
Tooth erosion
Enamel can also be worn down by direct exposure to acids such as stomach acids. This can sometimes happen frequently if pregnancy causes symptoms such as morning sickness or gastric reflux.
You can try to reduce their effects by rinsing your mouth afterwards to wash away and neutralise acids. You should avoid brushing your teeth for at least an hour, as acid exposure can weaken the enamel and make it more easily damaged.
Gum disease and associated risks
Hormone changes that affect blood flow to the gums increase the risk of developing gum disease during pregnancy. This is caused by bacteria in plaque building up on the teeth along the gum line and irritating or infecting the gums.
During the first stage of gum disease (gingivitis), the gums may look red and swollen, may be sore, and can bleed when you brush, floss or eat. If gingivitis isn’t treated, it can develop into more serious periodontitis, which can cause permanent damage to the gums and the bones and ligaments supporting the teeth, eventually leading to tooth loss.
Beyond its impact on the mouth, gum disease is also linked with an increased risk of developing other health problems, including heart disease and stroke. Periodontitis during pregnancy can also increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and babies being born prematurely or underweight.
You should talk to your dentist if you think you might have signs of gum disease. They can help you to reverse or manage the condition and lower your risks, which may continue to be an issue after pregnancy.
Gagging while brushing your teeth
The back of the mouth can become more sensitive during pregnancy, causing some people to gag or retch when brushing their teeth.
Avoiding brushing or brushing less often can increase your risk of tooth decay and other problems, so isn’t recommended. Instead, you could try using a toothbrush with a smaller or softer head, such as a child’s toothbrush, and brushing more slowly and gently, taking breaks during brushing if needed. Some people also find it helpful to distract themselves with music or to focus on their breathing.
Growths in the mouth
Lumpy growths known as pyogenic granuloma, pregnancy epulis or pregnancy tumours can also develop in the mouth during this time, most often in the second trimester. These are usually red and swollen in appearance, and may bleed when disturbed.
These are usually harmless, and will normally go away on their own after pregnancy, but they may cause pain or discomfort, and may affect speech in some cases. It’s possible for these lumps to be removed if necessary, but they often reappear. They are more common in people with gum disease or poor oral hygiene.
How to look after your oral health during pregnancy
You can lower your risk of pregnancy-related oral health complications by having regular check-ups with a dentist and making any changes they recommend to your daily oral care habits and diet.
Oral hygiene
Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily. Use fluoride toothpaste with a concentration of 1,000 to 1,500 parts per million (ppm) fluoride and don’t rinse the toothpaste off your teeth at the end so they’ll be protected against plaque for longer.
Don’t brush too soon after eating or after drinking anything other than water, or after vomiting or reflux, as your tooth enamel may have been weakened by the acids and may be damaged by abrasive brushing. You should wait at least an hour before brushing, rinsing your mouth with water in the meantime.
Healthy diet
Try to avoid foods and drinks with added sugar that contribute to tooth decay, gum disease and related problems. Your dentist may recommend increasing your calcium intake to help strengthen your teeth and bones, with good sources including dairy (milk, cheese and sugar-free yoghurts), nuts and almonds.
Vitamin D is another important nutrient that helps the body to use calcium effectively. Along with sunlight, good food sources include fatty fish (like salmon, herring and mackerel), eggs, and fortified foods such as milk, breads and cereals.
Chewing sugar-free gum or mints can help stimulate saliva flow to prevent dry mouth.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol
Smoking and other tobacco use can increase your risk of gum disease, oral cancer and many other health problems. Alcohol can also be dangerous during pregnancy, contributing to dry mouth and oral cancer among other issues.
Visit the dentist
If you’re planning to get pregnant, or you’ve just got the news, it’s recommended to book a check-up with your dentist so they can evaluate your risk factors and provide any preventive treatments or advice that they think could help you. After pregnancy, you should aim to have regular check-ups every 6–12 months, making your baby’s first appointment before their second birthday.
Book a consultation with a Gold Coast dentist
If you want to talk to a dentist, or it’s been longer than 6 months since your last check-up and clean, contact our friendly team at Robina Town Dental today. Call 07 5575 9100 to arrange a consultation with our experienced dentists or send us a message.
Our Gold Coast dental clinic is conveniently located in Robina Town Centre and we welcome new patients from all nearby suburbs, including Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters, Clear Island Waters, Mermaid Waters, Merrimac, Miami, Mudgeeraba, Varsity Lakes and Worongary.