Pregnancy can be very stressful on the body, and one significant way is through your gum tissue. Patients who are expecting are significantly more likely to develop periodontal disease, and this is something that you should monitor both at home and with your trained oral health care professional. Today, your Columbia, TN dentist explains how your new baby can create possible issues in your future.
How Can It Hurt?
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is a serious infection of the mouth’s gums. This is usually a bacterial infection, and is a leading cause of tooth loss in Americans. If ignored, this infection can grow beyond the gums, and cause decay in the bone of the jaw.
Most commonly, prior to full-blown infection, you will notice redness and swelling at the site. If you find yourself spitting blood when you brush your teeth, be sure to mention this to your dentist. It may be a sign that some work may be needed to restore your smile!
Changes To Your Body
The body makes some pretty incredible changes throughout the course of a pregnancy. Our hormonal shifts can also leave an expecting mother more vulnerable to plaque buildup on the enamel of our teeth.
And the body doesn’t wait very long to get started on these changes! Nearly immediately after conception, your body starts to prepare. Dentists typically like to see pregnant mothers in either the 2nd or 3rd trimester.
The risk of periodontal disease increases significantly between the 2nd and 8th month of pregnancy. Any advice your dentist gives you should be followed with rigor.
What Can I Do?
Thankfully, maintaining healthy gums during pregnancy does not take much more effort than a traditional regimen. The significance is elevated, however. The risks are also greater. A twice-daily tooth brushing routine alongside daily flossing and an oral rinse are the biggest factors in a healthy mouth. It is important to brush after eating any food at night, and that means after every late night snack. This is something seen often with pregnant patients. An adequate diet is also highly important in keeping the gums healthy. With a child growing inside you, your nutrients are shared with another being, and your body becomes an afterthought to the child.
We need a level of nutrition to be able to fight off infection, and during pregnancy, even more so Our mouths are a gateway for bacteria, essentially the largest weakness our body has. A healthy selection of fruits and vegetables help our body to have the weapons it needs so that it can protect our system against bacterial intruders. Issues? Concerns?
If there is something more that you'd like to know, please give us a call. Don't wait, call Creekside Family Dentistry in Columbia, TN, today at (931) 388–3384!