Dental Problems associated with pregnancy

Lorem Krsna de Morais Sousa

At ICTE-UQ - University of Queensland

Australia, 2014

There is an old wives’ tale that says a woman should expect to lose a tooth for every baby that

she has. In fact this is false. However, there are some dental problems associated with

pregnancy, such as erosion caused by vomiting, gum disease and not only an increase in the

risk of tooth decay but also the possibility of premature birth with low birth weight.

How can this happen?

First of all, it is normal in pregnant women during the second to fourth month to feel morning

sickness. This can frequently cause nausea and vomiting. The gastric acids which emerge in

the mouth during the reflux as responsible for this erosion. In the same way, this can trigger a

risk of the dental decay through the damage of the enamel.

The second point is gum problems. Gingivitis affects up to 70% of pregnant women. This is

can happen due to pregnancy hormones change which affect the way that gums react to plaque,

layer of germs on your teeth. According to the American Dental Association, as many as 3 out

4 women experience "pregnancy gingivitis" that causes gums to be red, puffy, or tender.

Occasionally a development of temporary swollen areas between the teeth can happened this

is called "pregnancy tumors” or pregnancy epulis. These are harmless and can be removed after

the baby is born.

Another kind of gum disease which can happen is periodontitis. It is more severe than gingivit is

where the loss of tissues and bone that holds the teeth firm are present. Periodontitis has been

associated not only with gestational diabetes but also the risk of premature birth with low birth

weight. Research have been reported that 18 out every 100 premature births may be triggered

by periodontal disease. Recently, researchers have also found that the association between the

baby in the womb and the mother allows bacteria from periodontal disease to pass to the baby

through the placenta. Another thing, is an increase in the inflammatory molecules from the

mouth caused by periodontal disease they can get into the circulatory system and reach the fetal

membranes triggering the premature birth of the baby. This can cause several problems in

baby’s health, such as eyesight and hearing or even death.

Likewise, dental treatment can reduce the risk of gum diseases by more than 80%. So, it is

really important to maintain oral health during pregnancy. Suggestions include not only the

regular care, for instance brush the teeth a fluoride toothpaste, but also regular visits to the

dentist both before, and during pregnancy. Finally, it is important to know that dental treatment

between the third to sixth months is the best time for both a pregnant woman and her baby.