Oral health and pregnancy

You might be surprised to find that, during pregnancy, your gums hurt more when you brush or floss your teeth. In fact, pregnant people are more likely to develop the gum disease gingivitis. But that’s just one of the ways in which pregnancy affects people’s oral health.  

 

There’s an important link between pregnancy and oral health, and one influences the other. Not only does being pregnant make you more likely to experience certain dental issues, but letting those issues go untreated can put you and your baby at higher risk of serious complications. During this time, it’s more important than ever to take care of your teeth and gums. The health of you and your child are at stake. 

 

Here are the key facts to know about dental care during pregnancy. 

 

How does pregnancy affect oral health?  

Being pregnant can affect your dental health in several different ways: 

• Hormonal changes make you more at risk of gum disease. 

• You may find yourself snacking more often, or eating more sugary foods, which helps fuel harmful oral bacteria and can put you at higher risk of cavities. 

• You might feel more tired, busy, and/or stressed than usual, making it more difficult to keep up with dental appointments and dental care at home. 

• Pregnancy-related nausea might make brushing your teeth unappealing.  

• Vomiting from nausea creates more acid in your mouth, which can damage your tooth enamel. 

What happens to your mouth during pregnancy 

When you’re pregnant, your body goes through hormonal changes that cause more blood to flow to your mouth and gums. As a result, many people find that their gums become more sensitive and bleed more easily when they’re brushing and flossing. This is a symptom of pregnancy gingivitis, a gum disease that affects 60 to 75 percent of pregnant people and is especially common during the second trimester. If this happens, your gums may become red and swollen from inflammation.  

Hormonal changes also interfere with your body’s ability to respond to bacteria, which can cause periodontal infections and plaque build-up on your teeth, which put you at higher risk of gingivitis. 

Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontitis, which is a serious gum infection. If gum disease worsens, it can severely damage the bone that supports your teeth, causing teeth to loosen and possibly even fall out. 

Another issue that affects a relatively small percentage of pregnant people is the development of a pyogenic granuloma – a noncancerous tumor on the skin or mucous membranes that tend to bleed. These typically disappear after a baby is born.  

Nausea and oral health 

It's common to experience nausea or “morning sickness” at some point during pregnancy. This can make some people feel an aversion to brushing their teeth, which puts them at higher risk of tooth decay. 

In addition, if nausea causes you to throw up frequently, that can cause your teeth to be exposed to more acidic substances, which can in turn damage your tooth enamel (the outer part of your teeth). 

Can poor oral health affect your pregnancy?  

Oral health during pregnancy has a direct impact on the health of you and your child. Research shows that periodontal disease in pregnant women is associated with delivering a preterm baby or a baby with low birth weight. Premature birth is associated with many other health risks for babies, including long-term complications.  

Periodontal disease in pregnant people is also associated with pre-eclampsia - which is a condition occurring midway through pregnancy, in which people experience high blood pressure. Pre-eclampsia can result in serious issues for both mothers and babies if it’s not treated. While more research is needed to understand the link between pre-eclampsia and oral health, treating periodontal disease is associated with better oral health in pregnant people, and the treatments for the disease are not known to lead to any negative outcomes. 

In addition, pregnant people may be at higher risk of cavities due to changes in eating habits and/or frequent vomiting. If you have high amounts of cavity-causing bacteria, you can pass it along to your child. 

The impact of neglecting dental care during pregnancy 

Some women don’t seek out dental care when expecting. They may feel they’re too tired or busy and not realize how important it is to prioritize their oral health as much as their overall health. 

According to one of the leading organizations for maternal healthcare, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), oral care during pregnancy is safe, and that improved oral health among expecting mothers “may decrease transmission of potentially cariogenic bacteria to infants and reduce children’s future risk of caries” (another word for cavities). The American Dental Association agrees that dental treatment is safe throughout pregnancy. 

Is local anesthesia safe during pregnancy? 

It’s common for dentists to use a local anesthesia to help numb part of a patient’s mouth during procedures such as cavity fillings. While it’s smart to be concerned about the safety of any medication during pregnancy, you can rest assured that local anesthesia (with or without epinephrine) is considered safe.  

You may also be prescribed antibiotics. Common antibiotics considered safe during pregnancy include penicillin, amoxicillin, cephalosporins, clindamycin, and metronidazole.  

Are dental x-rays safe while pregnant? 

Rest assured, it is safe to get a dental x-ray while pregnant. The Food and Drug Administration put out a joint statement with The American College of Obstetricians and the American College of Radiology stating that during most x-ray examinations, including those of the teeth, “do not involve any risk to the unborn child” when properly done with the appropriate shields. X-rays on the mouth do not expose your reproductive organs to direct radiation. Moreover, x-rays allow doctors and dentists to gather valuable information that can help you seek the diagnosis and treatment you need. 

Always tell your doctors and your dentist about any drugs you’re taking in case they interfere with other medications or procedures. If you’re concerned about the safety of any medication during pregnancy, talk to your OBGYN or primary care doctor.  

How to take care of your oral health during pregnancy  

The same habits that maintain good oral health throughout your life still apply during pregnancy:  

• Brush your teeth at least twice per day. If your gums are more sensitive than usual, you might try a brush with softer bristles. 

• Clean between the teeth with traditional dental floss or a water flosser at least once per day. 

• Attend regular dental checkups. It’s recommended to schedule these twice per year, which would mean going at least once while pregnant.  

• Maintain a healthy diet and minimize sugary and processed foods, which make people more likely to get cavities. 

• If you throw up from nausea, avoid brushing your teeth right away. Instead, the ADA suggests rinsing your mouth with “a diluted solution of 1 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda to neutralize the acid.”