Pregnancy And Oral Health

Pregnancy and oral health are interlinked to each other, as pregnancy causes hormonal changes and increased demands on the body that can affect both your maternal and fetal.

Pregnant women are susceptible to wide range of oral problems that could be harmful to their health and the baby. Hormonal changes can cause various oral health problems like gingivitis, periodontitis, and even tooth decay.

If you forget dental care while pregnant, then you must read this blog to know pregnancy dental care and what safety erasure you can take to prevent oral problems.

How Does Pregnancy Affect Oral Health

There are certain hormonal changes that take place in your body during pregnancy and oral health is greatly affected leading to oral infections.

• Changes in hormones during pregnancy (progesterone and estrogen) increase the risk of oral health conditions.

• Your eating habits change as you start to eat certain foods that you may not used to eat before the pregnancy, and the kind of food you eat can affect your overall oral health.

• Brushing and flossing during pregnancy can lead to nausea and vomiting (sick feeling in the stomach), and you may brush your teeth less than you used to do before.

• Not maintaining and taking care of your oral hygiene is one of the major and common risk factors for oral health issues.

Risk Of Dental Problems During Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with various oral issues because of an increase in hormones, changes in diets, and eating behaviors.

Here are some of the common oral health conditions reported in women during pregnancy –

• Cavities (Tooth Decay)

Being pregnant makes you more likely to have cavities in your teeth due to binge eating and high intake of sugar containing foods and beverages. Cavities are a small damaged area on the surface of your teeth.

You can pass the bacteria to the baby that causes cavities during pregnancy or after birth, which means your child may have cavities in the future.

• Gingivitis

Hormones can increase your risk of Gingivitis, and 60 – 75% of pregnant women are reported to have Gingivitis. It is an inflammation of the gums, causing symptoms like (swelling and redness).

If it is left untreated, it can worsen over time and can lead to serious gum disease.

• Teeth Loss

High levels of (progesterone and estrogen) hormones during pregnancy can loosen the tissues and bones that help to keep your teeth in place, which can cause tooth loss.

• Teeth Erosion

If you have morning sickness (vomiting), your teeths are exposed to stomach acid which can harm your tooth enamel (the hard surface) of your teeth, leading to tooth erosion.

Symptoms Of Dental Problems During Pregnancy

Oral health affects your overall health, and oral health problems can happen before, during, or even after the pregnancy. It can affect the baby, and the baby’s oral health and general health after birth.

The main signs and symptoms of dental problems during pregnancy involve changes to your teeth and gums, such as –

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
• Redness
• Shiny gum surface
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Mouth sores or lumps on the gums
• New spaces between your teeth
• Toothache or other pain
• Receding gums or pus along your gum line

While experiencing these signs, make an immediate appointment with a dental professional to cure the oral problems before it gets worse and leads to serious oral issues.

Ways To Prevent Oral Problems During Pregnancy

As you already know, there are severe oral health issues that come during pregnancy and oral health is greatly affected by hormonal changes and changes in your diet and eating habits.

Here are certain pregnancy dental care routines that you can include in your daily basis routine to keep your teeth and gums healthy and risk-free of oral diseases.

• Brush your teeth two times a day with (fluoride-based toothpaste) and floss regularly at least once a day. Use a soft bristles toothbrush. Brushing and flossing regularly removes plaque and helps to keep your teeth and gums clean.

• If you can’t brush your teeth because of vomiting problems in the initial months, use mouthwash or rinse your mouth with a mixture of baking soda and water. Rinsing with water and soda can help reduce the amount of acid in your mouth.

• Visit your dentist regularly for dental checkups every 6 months (twice a year) and even during pregnancy. During your dental checkup, tell your dentist that you’re pregnant.

• Maintain your diet, and include healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, lean meat, whole-grain breads, pasta, and low-fat dairy products.

• Limit sweets and sugary foods and drink plenty of water instead of sugary and acidic drinks.

• Including healthy foods in your diet helps provide you and your growing baby important nutrients. Nutrients rich foods like calcium, protein, phosphorus, and vitamins A, C, and D will help your baby’s teeth to grow healthy.

• If you’re craving things like large amounts of ice, paste, dirt, or smoking, let your prenatal provider know.

How Dental Problems Are Treated During Pregnancy

Depending on your condition, your dentist may suggest you wait for treatment until your child’s birth. Treatments that are safe during pregnancy are –

• Medicines

Your dentist will prescribe you medicines that will be safe for you and your baby like medicines such as pain relievers and antibiotics to treat the oral infections.

• Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is a medicine used to lessen or prevent dental pain. Anesthesia is used in specific parts of the body to numb your mouth for dental fillings.

Several studies have found that pregnant women who have been exposed to mercury fillings have a higher risk of miscarriage, preeclampsia, and low birth weight of the baby.

Key Takeaways

Maintaining a good oral care routine, eating a nutrient-rich diet, and limiting excess sugar intake can help prevent oral health problems during pregnancy.

Plan an appointment with a dentist every 6 months for dental care while pregnant and to determine any early issues that can be easily treated, and take care of your pregnancy and oral health.

Protect Your Smile And Your Little One’s Oral Health

Referral Site –

Pregnancy  [ADA] June 22, 2023

Pregnancy Gingivitis  [Cleveland Clinic] July 03, 2022

Dental health during pregnancy  [HMSB]  February 2023

A beautiful smile is one of the most attractive traits that comes with healthier teeth and gums. But what can destroy your teeth? Poor dental hygiene habits. And guess what? Very few of us know how to brush our teeth properly without harming them. 

Keeping your teeth healthy requires good dental hygiene that starts at home and regular visits to the dentist.

Brushing teeth twice a day might not be enough to keep your mouth and teeth clean and healthy, especially if you are making these mistakes. Here are some of the common mistakes that can ruin your oral health. 

Picking The Wrong Toothbrush

• While choosing a toothbrush from a local supermarket, make sure to choose the brush that reaches the gaps of your teeth and covers the places that need covering.
• You should be able to reach everywhere in the mouth with a toothbrush to properly clean the pieces of food stuck in those areas.
• The bristles need to be soft and flexible so that they can bend and be able to get under the gum to clean the inner corners of the mouth.

Rushing While Brushing Teeth

• Most people do not consider brushing teeth an important part of their daily routine, and they just do it because they have to. But not brushing your teeth properly is equal to not brushing at all.
• You must brush at least two times, one in the morning before going to school, college, or the office and at night before going to bed, and most people cut it down short.
• Brushing shorter than 2 minutes doesn’t give enough time for fluoride in your toothpaste to attach to the enamel in your tooth.

Brushing For Too Long

• Brushing properly doesn’t mean that you need to brush your teeth for longer or for more than 2 minutes.
• Gently brush on all surfaces of your teeth in circular motions, especially if you have dental implants, to achieve clean and shinier teeth every day.
• Brushing teeth for too long can harm the upper surface of your teeth and the gums, which can make your teeth sensitive while eating or drinking soft and cold food and beverages.

Using Too Much Toothpaste

• The amount of toothpaste you use is also very important for oral care and brushing your teeth correctly.
• Dentists recommend choosing fluoride-based toothpaste, and that too in a small amount because taking too much toothpaste on your brush doesn’t necessarily mean that it will properly clean your teeth.
• But it is important to take the right amount of toothpaste, brush in circular motion, and reach every surface and inner corner of your teeth to have clean teeth and gums.

Brushing A Bit Too Hard

• Cleaning your teeth properly doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be hard on your teeth.
• There is a thin layer of bacteria on your teeth that can be easily removed by using the right brush and toothpaste.
• Choosing a toothbrush that has hard bristles and is too hard on your teeth can ruin the upper surface of your teeth.

Rinsing Your Mouth With Water After Brushing

• You can spit the toothpaste out, but the moment you mix water, the efficiency of the fluoride from your toothpaste is cut down.
• If you have a habit of rinsing your mouth daily. Use a mouthwash that contains fluoride instead of water.
• Wait for at least half an hour after brushing to rinse your mouth, drink water, or consume any beverages.

Not Using Dental Floss

• If you are not habitual to flossing regularly, you must start flossing every day at least once.
• Flossing is required once a day to remove plaque and food particles stuck in the inner corners of the teeth.
• Plaque that is not removed through brushing teeth should be removed by flossing. Otherwise, the deposits can turn into hard calcified deposits that can lead to tooth decay.

Storing Toothbrush In an Unhygienic Place

• Most people keep their toothbrush in the bathroom, which is one of the most unhygienic places to keep your toothbrush.
• Be smart, and avoid sharing your toothbrush with others. Keep it in an open area to avoid moisture that forms bacteria on the bristles.
• But, if you store it in the bathroom, and when you flush your toilet, the contents of the toilet bowl are transmitted in all directions and can sit on the bristles of the brush.

Forgetting To Clean Your Tongue

• Neglecting your tongue when it comes to oral hygiene is the most common problem seen in most people.
• You must remember to clean your tongue while brushing. Regularly clean your tongue to remove bacteria deposits and prevent bad breath.
• A good tongue cleaner scrapes out the residual bacteria from the tongue, making it cleaner. You can also get a toothbrush that has tongue cleaner on its opposite side.

Using The Same Toothbrush For Too Long

• When you have a good toothbrush, it’s sometimes hard to give up on that. But when you have been using your toothbrush for too long, and it has become discolored, the bristles have bent, or it looks dirty.
• It’s time for you to change your toothbrush and get a new one with soft and clean bristles.
• A toothbrush loses its power when its bristles become frayed. And you need to replace your toothbrush with a new one every 3 – 4 months or according to its condition.

How To Brush Your Teeth If You Have Dental Implants

If you have dental implants, you must know how to brush properly to take care of your oral health.

• Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush angled at 45 degrees towards the gum line.

• Gently brush in small circular motions, paying attention to the areas where the implants meet the gums. Clean your teeth and implants at least two times a day.

• Choose a low-abrasive tartar control toothpaste that is specifically designed to clean implants.

• Floss regularly with a Waterpik flosser to reach every inner corner and tight space.

• Avoid and reduce your sugar intake, and remember to clean your mouth with water after every meal, and don’t forget to schedule your next dental cleaning.

Key Takeaways

Include one change to your teeth-brushing routine every day. You’ll notice that your mouth feels fresher. Avoiding these teeth-brushing mistakes and regular visits to the dentist ensures long-term protection of your gums.

Love Your Smile, Love Your Oral Hygiene Routine

Millions of people wear braces, from traditional metal braces to clear retainers like Invisible braces that offer a safe solution to closing gaps, preventing crowding, and giving their teeth a symmetrical shape.

For some, DIY braces kits may be a tempting solution to spacing, gaps, and other issues, but are they really safe and effective? There are many reasons to avoid DIY braces kits as an alternative to braces applied by a licensed orthodontist.

Choosing the cheap and easy option of do-it-yourself (DIY) braces can cause severe damage to your teeth and gums.

Are DIY Braces Safe To Use

DIY braces may seem like a quick, easy, and less costly approach to closing the gaps between the teeth. Unfortunately, the DIY treatment can result in long-term oral issues that require complex and costly fixes.

Oral braces kits are available as an affordable alternative to braces. They can be more cost-effective, but you may end up investing more in the long term.

Although DIY braces are quick and easy at-home fixes, they have the potential to damage your metal braces, which can ruin your oral health.

Professional orthodontists receive years of professional training and are specialists in straightening and aligning the teeth and bite.

They also offer a thorough examination to provide the proper treatments needed for the patient.

Moving teeth without examining the health of teeth and gums could cause permanent loss of teeth, which can result in expensive and lifelong dental issues.

Drawbacks Of Using DIY Braces

Although oral braces can be a convenient option for you, there are certain severe risks that come with this approach. Here are some common drawbacks of using oral braces and why you should avoid them.

• Risk Of Severe Infection

Unfortunately, DIY braces don’t include clinical examinations or X-rays to determine any existing dental or oral problems before treatment.

Moving teeth in the presence of underlying teeth or gum disease can worsen these diseases, leading to possible tooth loss.

Whereas specialist orthodontists are experts in recognizing these underlying issues and addressing them before moving the teeth.

• Teeth And Jaw Damage

Straight teeth can cause problems if the teeth bite is not comfortable. Incorrect bites can lead to teeth breaking/chipping, wearing of tooth enamel, and jaw pain.

DIY braces kits only address the straightening of teeth, and they do not change or improve a patient’s bite.

In contrast, orthodontists can easily identify and treat both teeth alignment and bite issues that can cause discomfort and pain.

• Costly And Time Taking Process

Orthodontists are left to fix the damage caused by DIY treatments, which can cost patients large amounts of money and can take years to fix the issues.

Repairing the damage caused by wearing oral braces through dentists’ At-home DIY procedures can be more expensive than investing in the right specialist orthodontic braces from the start.

Is It Easy To Do Teeth Whitening With Braces

While using braces, plaque and debris from the food can get easily snagged in the brackets and wires of the braces, which can damage or stain your teeth and gums.

If you want to effectively whiten your teeth to improve your smile. Orthodontists recommend delaying the process and waiting until their braces are removed.

Because bleaching agents used during extensive whitening can inevitably weaken the attachment of the braces on your teeth.

And even if you clean your teeth while wearing braces, your teeth will become mismatched when you remove the braces. So, it is best to whiten your teeth when your braces are removed to have a perfect and brighter smile.

How To Perfectly Straighten Your Smile

Contact a dentist or an orthodontist, they can recommend the solution to help you achieve an aesthetic and a healthy smile. There are a variety of braces to help you customize your look while correcting any tooth or jaw alignment issues.

• Traditional Braces

Traditional braces are also as affordable as DIY brace kits, but they are more efficient than them.

It includes metal brackets and wires that place the teeth in the right position. You can choose your favorite colors to customize your brackets.

• Designer Braces

It can add accents to your appearance by having various special shapes like hearts and stars, and they also have sports-themed designs.

They are still an effective and safe solution that can help you achieve the exact look that you want to achieve.

• Ceramic Braces

These ceramic braces are almost invisible in look and have teeth-like shapes that blend with your teeth seamlessly.

Reasons Why You Should Consult An Orthodontist

While having any dental problems, it’s crucial to get the right advice from a dental professional to get the right treatment according to your oral conditions.

Orthodontists are dental experts who are professionals in addressing the problem and identifying which treatment options will be best for you, leading to the best outcome and, ultimately, the best smile.

Teeth are best when left to the professionals as you only have one set that you need to last a lifetime.

Key Takeaways

(DIY) oral braces may seem tempting and cost-saving, but the risks of using a DIY braces kit outweigh the potential benefits. No matter how convenient it seems in terms of money, the serious consequences will be a far greater cost to oral health.

When it comes to achieving a perfect, healthy, and beautiful smile, professional care is not just recommended by dentists; it’s essential for your overall oral health.

Get The Smile You’ve Always Dreamed Of