Maintaining good oral health is crucial for your overall health. This is particularly important during pregnancy as maintaining oral health is essential to prenatal care. Being pregnant can heighten the risk of developing oral health issues. During pregnancy, women are more likely to develop gingivitis, an early stage of periodontal disease. These oral health issues can, in turn, have an impact on your pregnancy. Therefore, paying extra attention to your oral health is essential during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, it’s in your best interest to schedule an appointment with our experienced general dentistry/dentists located in Basking Ridge & Morristown, NJ, who can help ensure a healthy pregnancy.
How Does Pregnancy Affect Your Dental Health?
Firstly, it’s imperative to understand that pregnancy doesn’t cause prior mouth health and damage to the teeth. However, the changes in one’s lifestyle during pregnancy increase the risk of developing dental problems. Due to the increased levels of certain hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, in your body during pregnancy, these hormones can raise the risk of developing oral health issues. High levels of hormones can temporarily loosen the tissues and bones that keep your teeth in place, resulting in tooth loss.
In some cases, pregnant women don’t brush or floss their teeth as often as they did before they went pregnant. This may be because the gums are more tender, and brushing could trigger nausea. If you are vomiting from morning sickness, your teeth may frequently be exposed to stomach acids. This acid can damage the enamel of your teeth. Nevertheless, if you have any signs or symptoms of oral health issues during your pregnancy, you should enlist the help of a skilled dentist who can help you take the appropriate course of action to remedy any dental health problem.
What Dental Problems Can Affect a Developing Baby?
Due to the changes in lifestyle, eating habits, and body processes during pregnancy, pregnant women are at an increased risk for cavities. Women who have significant cavity-causing bacteria in their mouths during pregnancy and even after delivery could potentially transmit these bacteria from their mouth to their baby’s mouth. If a baby has early contact with these bacteria, it can increase their risk of developing early childhood cavities and the need for substantial dental care from a young age.
Unfortunately, research has shown that there’s a link between severe gum disease in pregnant women and premature birth with low birth weight. Essentially, babies who are born prematurely can have a risk of brain injury and impairment of their eyesight and hearing. However, gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis can be treated by a dentist during pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant or plan on getting pregnant, please don’t hesitate to contact our trusted NJ dental team from Dental Associates of Basking Ridge, who can help you maintain your oral health to safeguard your baby.
