Can Pregnancy Complications Affect My Babies’ Teeth?
It’s always important to look after your oral health. Firstly, everybody loves having a nice, bright smile. Secondly, dental problems can be dangerous, unpleasant and costly to fix. During pregnancy, it’s even more important to take care of your dental hygiene as well as your overall health.
Pregnancy complications can affect your baby’s teeth, and your own dental issues may cause other problems for your baby. So, let’s take a closer look at dental hygiene and pregnancy.
Do adult dental problems affect an unborn baby?
Before diving into how various pregnancy complications might affect your baby’s teeth, let’s consider your dental concerns. Research has found a link between severe gum disease and premature birth. As you would already know, prematurely born babies are at a greater risk of developing other health issues. These concerns may not be related to dental hygiene, but they can be quite serious, such as difficulties with eyesight and hearing or even brain damage.
As such, it’s important for pregnant mothers to look after their oral health before, during and after pregnancy.
Can I receive dental treatment while pregnant?
You can absolutely receive dental treatment while pregnant, but it’s important to let your dentist know you are expecting. Typically, dentists in Parramatta will take some extra precautions for pregnant patients. Many people are concerned about the use of x-rays, anaesthetic or other numbing materials. While these things are safe for you during pregnancy, you should let your dentist know if you have these concerns.
Am I at risk of dental issues while pregnant?
The human body goes through many hormonal changes during pregnancy, so you may be more susceptible to certain dental problems. In particular, pregnant women have a higher risk of developing certain types of gum disease, such as:
- Gingivitis: Most common during the second trimester, pregnant women may experience inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). Symptoms may include swollen or bleeding gums.
- Periodontal disease: When one of the structures supporting your teeth, such as gums, ligaments or bone, becomes infected, you’re at risk of periodontal disease. It can also be caused by leaving gingivitis untreated.
- Pregnancy epulis: This is a red, round growth that can occur on the gums and is known to bleed easily.
It’s important to contact your dentists in Parramatta as soon as you experience any of these issues while pregnant. Your dentist will be able to assist in a way that’s perfectly safe for your pregnancy. If you do notice your gums bleeding, try to brush your teeth regularly, but use a soft-bristled toothbrush and be as gentle as you can around the gums.
In addition to the gum concerns above, there are other issues that may affect you during pregnancy, such as:
- Food cravings lead to a less oral health-friendly diet.
- Tooth erosion caused by vomiting.
- Loose teeth due to high levels of progesterone and estrogen.
Pregnancy complications that might affect your baby’s teeth
Now that you’re more familiar with the dental issues you may experience during pregnancy, let’s consider how your health can affect your baby’s teeth. Naturally, your lifestyle and general health significantly impact your baby’s development. That’s why you’re always encouraged to maintain a good diet, exercise regularly, avoid alcohol and smoking and meet with medical professionals regularly.
When talking specifically about teeth, your baby, fortunately, won’t have too much to worry about. While some dental concerns are genetic, the fact that your baby’s teeth take some time to grow means they aren’t severely impacted during pregnancy.
With that being said, it’s not entirely plain sailing. You’ll still need to maintain good oral hygiene and overall health as directed by your trusted medical professionals. The major concern during pregnancy is cavities, and we’ll explain why.
Cavities during pregnancy
Nobody likes cavities or tooth decay at the best of times. However, the development of cavities is more prevalent during pregnancy, and it can affect your baby’s teeth. The main problem is that bacteria typically cause cavities, and these bacteria can be passed onto your baby during pregnancy or while nursing.
To avoid this, simply make a booking with your dentists in Parramatta before pregnancy (or in the early stages) to ensure your oral health is sound.
Looking for experienced dentists in Parramatta?
Here at Dental Avenue in Parramatta, we offer comprehensive dental services for the whole family. Whether you’re a single person needing a dental checkup or you want to look after your whole family’s oral health, we’re the team to see. We’ve created a warm, welcoming environment where everybody can feel comfortable. From regular dental cleaning to cosmetic dentistry, we take care of your entire family’s dental needs. Contact us today and find out why so many people choose us as their local dentists in Parramatta.
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