Huntersville Dentist

Being pregnant doesn’t just induce mood swings or force you to temporarily banish fish from your diet. Being with child can also affect your oral health as well. Your teeth and gums are affected by fluctuations in your hormone levels which can lead to some peculiar changes to your dental health. But you do not just need more urgent dental attention when you are pregnant; you also need to take certain precautions when seeing your dentist at such a state.

If you want to stay on top of your oral health while you’re expecting, here are some of the dental conditions that you should keep a keen eye on:

Gingivitis

Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing mild inflammation of the gums or gingivitis. This is because of the increased levels of progesterone while one is pregnant. At the same time, a more compromised immune system while you are expecting can cause gums to bleed more easily even when you’re simply brushing your teeth or flossing. If you have pregnancy gingivitis, the condition will usually resolve itself once the baby is born.

Periodontitis

This is the most severe form of gum disease and develops when the milder gingivitis is left untreated. Periodontitis causes extensive gum tissue and jaw bone destruction which can eventually lead to tooth loss. While gingivitis may be nothing more than a mere annoyance, full-blown periodontitis could actually affect the health of your baby since it has been found out that women with periodontitis have higher risks of delivering low birth weight babies and giving birth pre-term.

Granuloma

A granuloma is a red growth that is found along the upper gum line which occurs during pregnancy. Sometimes, these growths can induce bleeding and can even develop a crusty appearance. While these growths aren’t really that serious, they can cause discomfort, and make eating and talking difficult. Most of the time, these granulomas often occur during the second trimester of pregnancy and will start vanishing once you deliver.

Dry mouth

The decrease in the secretion of saliva could lead to dry mouth in expectant mothers. The decreased secretion is due to hormonal changes that come with the pregnancy. If you’re concerned that your dry mouth could lead to bad breath and cavity formations, try chewing sugarless gum all day long to promote saliva secretion.

Dissolution of dental enamel

Because some women vomit while pregnant, the vomiting, all the gastric acid juices could erode the enamel of your teeth. The enamel is the tough, white, outer protective layer of teeth which protects the pulp region where all sensitive nerves and blood vessels can be located.

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