gums become more fragile
Pregnancy alters hormonal balance, weakening tissues, including gums: they can swell and sometimes become painful. The gums' natural defenses against bacteria also decrease. This is why your gums may bleed when you bite into an apple or brush your teeth. This inflammation needs prompt treatment to avoid negatively impacting hygiene. If you reduce the thoroughness of your brushing for fear of bleeding, plaque can build up, increasing the risk of periodontal disease. For a more comfortable brushing experience, choose a soft-bristled toothbrush, and if your usual toothpaste tastes strange (a common but surprising phenomenon during pregnancy), consider switching to a different one.
Nausea can damage tooth enamel.
When nausea and vomiting occur frequently, the pH level in your mouth becomes more acidic. This accelerates the wear and tear on tooth enamel, causing teeth to lose their shine and become more porous. In other words, treating nausea is just as important as protecting your teeth. To neutralize the acidity, rinse with fluoride mouthwash (recommended by dentists) or a cup of water with a pinch of baking soda, instead of brushing immediately: some toothpastes increase acidity, and brushing may even trigger a new wave of nausea!
Avoiding infection is crucial
Good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups can help prevent infections or treat them promptly if they occur. This is important because infections can stay in the teeth and spread along nerves to the heart, eyes, and muscles, even the heart muscle. If you have any concerns or suspicions, schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately.
Protect your bones
Did you know? The jaw is the body's largest movable joint, determining overall oral balance, occlusion, and teeth grinding, as well as those frequent grinding sounds, especially at night, which can cause joint pain. Because it's so important, malocclusion (misaligned teeth or a poorly occluded jaw) can put stress on the top of the head, cervical spine, spine, and hips, affecting the balance of the entire skeleton. And with your back under immense pressure during pregnancy, this is no time to delay. Ask for a full dental X-ray to make sure everything is normal. If anything is abnormal, your dentist may recommend wearing braces at night. While not very sexy, it really works!
