Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Mother’s Dental Health

The whole journey of becoming a mother is one of the most challenging things a woman will undergo in her life. The process involves so many adjustments. You can imagine how a young or expecting mom feels when faced with such a situation.

With all the hormonal and bodily changes, it is not easy to deal with pain and new aches every day. Alongside this huge lifestyle change and welcoming a new family member in life, most women can not focus on their dental health. 

It is true that new and pregnant mothers have different dental needs and most moms fail to identify these needs, which leads to various oral care complications. In addition, not following a proper oral health routine can have an adverse effect on both your and your baby’s health.

But do not worry because we will help you combat your oral care concerns by giving you the correct advice so you can enjoy this phase of your life without worrying about your and your baby’s dental needs.

Are dental health and pregnancy-related? 

Pregnant women often neglect their teeth since they are so busy taking care of other parts of their bodies, and the consequences of this can harm their overall fitness. Not only this, but it can also lead to premature birth and gum diseases in severe cases. 

But there is no need to stress out because we have listed some important points on how pregnancy, breastfeeding, and oral health-related to each other so you can combat them before they get worse:

• Oral care is considered one of the most important parts of prenatal care. Most breastfeeding mothers can become prone to periodontal gum diseases. 
• Most pregnant ladies also become prone to gum inflammation, swelling, and bleeding from teeth due to high levels of changing hormones. 
• Some studies also prove that 60-70% of pregnant moms can have gingivitis in their early stages.
• It is shown that breastfeeding moms are at a higher risk of tooth decay than mothers in their early stages of pregnancy. In addition, major decay can also lead to tooth loss.
• Pregnant women having morning sickness can also suffer from enamel loss. The acids in the mouth while vomiting can break the tooth enamel, which can also lead to weak teeth. 
• Apart from cavities, the high amount of bacteria in pregnant women’s mouths can also travel to the fetus, which can harm the baby in the longer run.

These were some of the common oral care issues that can be seen in both breastfeeding and pregnant women. If you see any of these oral problems being persistent, you must go to your dentist and take proper care and treatment required for the same. 

Some common prevention tips

Now that you know dental problems, pregnancy and breastfeeding are related and can impact overall fitness, let us see some of the tips and habits you can incorporate into your daily routine to enjoy a fruitful and wholesome nine months of pregnancy without worrying about your teeth: 

• Make sure you visit your dentist often during the pregnancy and pay attention to every detail he tells you about your oral health.
• Ensure you mouthwash and floss daily. Flossing will help you to clean the nasty food particles stuck in your mouth, which will prevent cavities. And mouthwash will help keep your breath fresh.
• We know that cravings are at their peak during pregnancy, but it is also important to take care of your eating habits to avoid any dental care issues. For example: do not munch on too many sweets.
• As a mother-to-be, you must pay extra attention to your brushing routine. Make sure you brush your teeth after every meal. If not, try to do it at least two times a day. 

Lastly, if you are a mommy-to-be or breastfeeding, you must not panic after reading the information above because, just like any other health issue, you can easily combat oral care problems as well. Just make sure that you follow the prevention tips and listen to your dentist’s advice.