Taking good care of your teeth during pregnancy

Pregnancy influences your whole body. Your teeth and gums are not spared. However, if you take good care of it before, during and after pregnancy, pregnant women should not have any problems.

Here's everything you need to know about how pregnancy affects your oral system, as well as what you should do.

A little reminder about dental hygiene

It is important to remember that you should brush your teeth after every meal. Any residue left on the tooth, or worse, stuck between two teeth, will break down and can damage the enamel. On the other hand, by mixing with saliva, food debris forms a veil that can be eradicated with toothpaste. Once this veil has solidified, it is plaque that only the dentist can remove with scaling.

If you're not home at lunchtime, it's easy to slip a travel toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste into your bag (see our complete guide to homemade toothpaste). In all cases, use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Hard-bristled brushes are too aggressive for enamel and gums. If your mouth is particularly sensitive, you can find toothbrushes with extra soft bristles and toothpastes without a particular taste, which are gentler to use.

Think about flossing. It is not very popular in France, even though it is extremely effective. It allows you to dislodge food that gets stuck between your teeth and it gets into gaps that a toothbrush can't reach. Tooth floss is a great asset against plaque.

The pulsating jet is also recommended for rinsing your mouth, as well as for massaging your gums. Ask your dentist for advice on choosing a mouthwash. Some tend to stain teeth if you use them too regularly. He will also be able to recommend a mouthwash that does not contain alcohol. A homemade mouthwash can also do the trick.

Care and medication

Remember to tell your dentist if you are pregnant and it is not yet apparent. Also inform them of any medications your doctor may have prescribed for you. If you have problems that can wait until after the baby is born, he or she will advise you to postpone the procedure. On the other hand, all the care necessary to stop an infection can be provided.

Pregnancy does not prevent you from having dental work done, nor does it prevent you from having follow-up x-rays. The rays are focused on your mouth and you are wearing a lead gown anyway which effectively protects your baby.

Anesthesia

Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you have to suffer during dental work, especially since the stress generated is never good for the fetus. Local anesthesia is safe for children and your dentist will use it to treat cavities, abscesses or other painful procedures.

Do not engage in self-medication. If you need to take anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics, your dentist will prescribe them.

The pre-pregnancy check-up

If you're planning your pregnancy, it's a good idea to have a checkup with your dentist before you get pregnant. This appointment – which you should make at least once a year for the rest of your life – allows you to take stock and deal with any problems before they become too serious.

If there are treatments to be done, you will be able to handle them better before pregnancy, when your body is not yet overly stressed.

This routine visit is also an opportunity to perform a thorough descaling. Plaque that attaches to teeth is a porous surface that provides a comfortable haven for bacteria, especially since they feel safe from the toothbrush. Plaque can only be removed by your dentist. It's up to you to keep your teeth smooth and clean by brushing regularly.

The M'T Dents device for pregnant women

The M'T Dents prevention scheme, relating to the oral hygiene of children, teenagers and young adults – up to the age of 24 – has been accessible to pregnant women since 2014. This means that you can receive a preventive oral health examination during your pregnancy.

When you declare your pregnancy to the social security , a letter is sent to you to cover your complete oral examination. You can benefit from it from the fourth month of pregnancy until the twelfth day after your delivery. The only condition for full coverage without advancement of costs is that you go to an approved dental surgeon.

You are entitled to a complete examination, including x-rays if necessary. If this visit reveals any problems, the dentist will suggest a course of treatment.

The direct consequences of pregnancy on the teeth

Excessive acidity

Pregnancy is a big change in your body and the entire oral system is no exception. The direct consequences of pregnancy on the condition of the teeth are an overabundance of saliva and acidity.

It is not uncommon during pregnancy for your saliva to change, both in quality and quantity. To begin with, it can tend to acidify itself, causing the pH to drop.

The other acidity factor comes from nausea – morning sickness or not – gastric reflux and vomiting. All these phenomena make the acidic gastric juices rise. The mission of these juices is to dissolve the food you ingest to make it assimilable by the body. You may be apprehensive about their acidity if you happen to have an upset stomach.

If you also develop hyper salivation, your teeth will be permanently immersed in an overly corrosive environment. The effect of acid on teeth is devastating, as it attacks their enamel. If this protective layer has cracks in it, bacteria can nestle in and cause cavities.

It is therefore recommended that you clean your teeth if you experience reflux and vomiting during your pregnancy. It is not necessary to brush them every time, but at least rinse your mouth.

Cavity

Cavities are one of the most common dental problems. A cavity in the making is not painful, which is why the check-up is crucial. If you wait until it hurts, the tooth structure will already have suffered a lot.

Caries is a bacteriological infection. Your saliva, in which your teeth are bathed, will become infected and, every time you swallow, you ingest bacteria that are transmitted to your body, not sparing your developing baby.

If you are prone to reflux and vomiting and if your pregnancy causes you to snack constantly, you know that the risk of developing cavities is increased. You should therefore take special care to rinse your mouth. And above all, if you are in pain, don't wait a minute and ask your dentist for an emergency appointment.

Indirect consequences of pregnancy on teeth

In addition to acidity problems, pregnancy weakens your natural defenses in general, and those of your oral environment in particular.

See how to strengthen your immune system

Gingivitis

The other problem frequently encountered by pregnant women is gingivitis, or bleeding teeth. The gums surround your teeth and protect their roots. They are crisscrossed by a dense network of blood vessels that can suffer from hormonal disturbances caused by your pregnancy.

Add to that acidity and plaque formation, but that's not all. Progesterone and estrogen levels increase during pregnancy. This results in greater fluidity of the gingival tissue matrix. On the other hand, progesterone exerts an immunosuppressive action that also promotes the proliferation of several germs.

These factors cause the gums to swell and become red and painful. They can also bleed when brushing or flossing. This phenomenon is called gravid gingivitis.

If you notice these symptoms, again, make an emergency appointment. It's never a good idea to let the bacteria in your mouth grow. Any passage into the bloodstream is harmful to your child.

On the other hand, untreated gingivitis can only develop into a more serious phenomenon, periodontitis.

Periodontitis

If left untreated, if your gingivitis develops into periodontitis, you may face more serious consequences. You risk developing high blood pressure – preeclampsia – on top of all the changes your body is already going through.

In addition, if bacteria infect your placenta, you may go into premature labor because of the wrong message to prostaglandins, the hormones that trigger labor. The other risk is delivering an infant at term who is abnormally light in weight.

The outcome of untreated periodontitis is tooth loosening and loss.

Pregnancy undoubtedly has an impact on the condition of your mouth, but there is no such thing as a fatality. By getting a thorough checkup before pregnancy and taking special care of your teeth and gums during pregnancy, you'll keep your beautiful smile. And remember, if you're in pain, there's no way you can put off making an appointment, so get on your phone right away.

Finally, don't forget to take care of your diet during pregnancy, this site has some good meal ideas to spend a good holiday.

FAQ