Oral problems in pregnancy

During pregnancy, due to increase in the amount of certain hormones, our body undergoes a series of very important changes. Some of these changes occur in the oral cavity, giving rise to certain oral problems that, in general, are reversible and transient, but it is necessary to have a special care with our mouths so that these transitory changes do not end up being permanent changes that cause us problems and illnesses that are difficult to solve over time.
As the main recommendation it is very important that during pregnancy you maintain a proper oral hygiene and eat a balanced diet. When the baby needs calcium, it is obtained through the diet or from the mother's bones, but never from his teethSo you see, the popular saying that "each pregnancy will cost you a tooth" is not true.

Alterations that appear in pregnancy

• Gingivitis It is an inflammation and redness of the gums. It frequently produces general pain in the mouth, that is, you will not be able to point out a specific point, because you will notice a diffuse pain throughout it. It is also common to appear Bleeding of the gums, the reason is the same, its inflammation. All these gum problems They appear more frequently during the second month of pregnancy, the most intense time is usually around the eighth month and generally improve after delivery.
• During the second trimester a "Granuloma of pregnancy", also called "pregnancy tumor" or "epulis." It is a bulging lesion located on the gum and that bleeds easily. They are benign and slow growing. They are usually soft and can hurt at first. Their evolution begins from the union of two teeth and sometimes they reach a considerable size. In this case, the dentist will decide which is the best treatment, although most they diminish in size or even disappear after delivery without the need for special interventions.
• Another important problem is that it can appear some mobility of the teeth during pregnancy, giving the feeling that our teeth are "loose". This is because hormones can affect the ligaments that hold the tooth.
• Dental cavities. Cavities occur when acids in the mouth break down a tooth's enamel (enamel is the very hard outer layer of the tooth). During pregnancy we can have more acid in the mouth, simply by the Reflux (quite frequent) that appears from the beginning of the pregnancy. Therefore, cavities are more likely to appear or get worse. And if it adds up that you have nausea of pregnancy and you vomit Often times, you still have more acid in your mouth, so the situation is more favorable to the appearance of the dreaded cavities.
• Periodontitis. It is a serious gum disease. It happens when there is inflammation and infection in the gums and bones that hold the teeth in place. It is important to clarify that Periodontitis is not provoked due to pregnancy, although hormonal changes, normal in gestation, together with a carelessness in hygiene dental can aggravate it.

Frequent symptoms

• Gum pain. Caused by inflammation of the same, the appearance of "Epulis" or cavities.
• Redness of the gums: By action of hormones.
• Bleeding gums: Caused by inflammation.
• "Loose" teeth: By the action of hormones on the ligaments that hold the teeth.
• Bad breath: Caused by the increase of bacterial plaque or by the reflux that appears during the pregnancy.
• Appearance or worsening of caries
• S"dry mouth" feeling: Scientifically it is called "physiological xerostomia" and is due to hormonal changes.

Prevention

• Brush your teeth after every meal and use the floss once a day. Use a brush soft bristles. Proper brushing and frequent flossing around the gum line helps remove plaque and prevents the appearance of cavities.
• If you have a lot of nausea and they make you feel unwell to brush your teeth (sometimes the same brushing can cause nausea), try rinse your mouthYou can do it only with water or with mouthwash (ask your pharmacy or ask your doctor which is best for pregnant women).
• If you vomit, rinse off mouth with water or brush yourself teeth to remove acid.
• It is important to make a visit your dentist to have a dental check-up (the entire population should do it every 6 to 12 months, even during pregnancy) The best time to perform treatments is the second trimester of pregnancy, although in an emergency the Dentist will decide if you can wait or should carry out the necessary intervention in the trimester in which you are.
• Change your eating habits. A healthy and balanced diet will provide you with nutrients necessary for you, for the correct development of your baby and for its proper growth. Your baby's teeth begin to develop between 3 and 6 months of pregnancy. Nutrients, like calcium, protein and vitamins, help your baby's teeth grow healthy.
• Limit sweets from your diet. Taking too much sweet food or drink can lead to tooth decay. Instead of sweets, drink between a liter and a half and two liters of water, eat healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables or greens and the consumption of dairy products increases. It is not that you never take a sweet or a "candy", but that this is something punctual and unusual. In any case, it is important that you do not take very soft or "Sticky" that stick to the tooth and are difficult to remove. Try brush you if you have taken any of these sweets, to remove the remains that may have left.

It is important to know that when a woman has gum problems or periodontal disease before pregnancy, she is likely to aggravate with it and it must be taken into account that there are studies that relate Periodontal Disease and premature births, being considered as a risk factor so that those women who suffer it during pregnancy, have premature births and as a consequence, you drink from under weight at birth.
Keep in mind that we will not be able to control the hormonal changes of pregnancy, our hormones increase during pregnancy to maintain it for 40 weeks and provide our child with an optimal environment for their development, therefore it is very important control or eliminate totally the rest of factors that cause gingivitis, tooth decay or periodontitis, which as we have seen are mainly: dental plaque and tartar.