Pregnancy is a very special, exciting and sensitive period for women and their families. In order to avoid any unpleasantness during this period, oral and dental health should be given extra importance.
Why should a dentist be consulted before pregnancy?
If pregnancy is planned, we should consult a dentist in the same way as we prepare our body for pregnancy by having some tests done beforehand.
The dentist performs a detailed examination and, if necessary, X-rays and prepares you for pregnancy with ideal oral hygiene. Treats all teeth that are thought to cause problems during pregnancy. Detects and treats existing gum diseases and caries. Recommends the extraction of suspicious wisdom teeth. He tells you in detail what should be done and what should not be done during this period, and if necessary, he brings oral hygiene to the best point with preventive and preventive dentistry such as tartar cleaning, fissure sealant applications (flattening the pits on the chewing surfaces of the teeth with very thin surface fillings, minimising the possibility of caries formation by minimising food retention) or fluoride supplements.
Is it possible to visit a dentist during pregnancy?
Definitely yes. If possible, visits to the dentist should be made before pregnancy, in the 3rd month and in the 6th month, so that expectant mothers can spend both their pregnancy period and the first days they are busy with their baby in terms of oral health. During this period, the expectant mother can be comfortable with the dental calculus and plaque cleaning procedures to be performed by the dentist.
How Should Oral Care Be During Pregnancy?
There are also changes in eating habits with pregnancy. Expectant mothers need to eat frequently and in small amounts. Oral care should also follow this eating frequency.
Morning sickness, which is common in the first 3 months of pregnancy, can make brushing teeth and sometimes even feeding difficult. If this nausea is accompanied by vomiting, oral care becomes even more important. Immediately after vomiting, the mouth should be rinsed with plenty of water rather than brushing teeth. Otherwise, tooth brushing combined with stomach acid causes erosion in the structure of the teeth. However, teeth should be brushed 1 hour after rinsing.
What are the Dental Problems During Pregnancy?
Due to nausea and vomiting, which are intense in the early stages of pregnancy, an acidic environment is formed in the mouth and oral care becomes difficult for the same reason. Thus, teeth can become more prone to decay.
During pregnancy, an increase in estrogen and progesterone hormones is observed. Depending on hormonal changes, gum problems may also increase. These problems can manifest themselves as gingival growth and gingival bleeding. Thus, the oral environment becomes much more sensitive to bacteria. Increased bacterial activation also increases the risk of infection. Scientific research has shown that the risk of premature birth and low-weight babies increases 7 times in pregnant women with gum disease.
Which Dental Treatments Are Allowed During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, all kinds of emergency dental treatment can be performed in any case of necessity, with the knowledge of the expectant mother's doctor. For treatments that can be postponed until after pregnancy, it should be waited in order not to cause stress to the expectant mother. However, the most comfortable period for any treatment that cannot be postponed is the second period between 3 and 6 months. If necessary, X-rays can be taken, provided that a lead vest is worn. Anaesthesia with special anaesthetic solutions can be administered to prevent pain. If necessary, painkillers and antibiotics may be recommended after consultation with the doctor before or after the procedure. In order for the expectant mother to have a comfortable pregnancy, which is perhaps one of the most beautiful periods of her life, it is recommended to visit the dentist regularly and to have all the treatments that are thought to cause problems before entering this process.
