*Your super smile*

*** Your Super Smile***
Oral Health when Expecting

Calling all Mamas-To Be. ❤️🤰🙋🏾‍♀️ Hope you are all keeping well. With the CB it may not be so easy to access a dentist right so so I’ve put together a summary of what to look out for when expecting to help you navigate your oral health in pregnancy.
 
· Bleeding gums or swollen gums (pregnancy gingivitis, gingival hyperplasia) – you may notice redness or bleeding around the gum edges. Rest assured that this is very common. Now is the time to be extra vigilant with your oral hygiene. Get flossing or interdental brushing to remove dental plaque and avoid further irritation of the gums. Your diet will also play a role. Try and avoid refined sugars which contribute to the formation of dental plaque and see a dentist for a professional clean if you can.

· Larger gum swellings (pyogenic granulomas) – these usually present in the gum area between the teeth and can bleed on brushing, touching or eating. They present in 1-5% of pregnant women. A pyogenic granuloma will usually resolve post-partum but there is an option to have it surgically removed if it’s really bothering you. Again, keep the area as clean as possible. A professional clean may also help.

· Wearing of the teeth (acid erosion from morning sickness) – many of us have been there and whilst morning sickness (which can of course be at any time of the day) can subside in the second trimester, on occasions it doesn’t. Sickness brings up acid from the stomach which can chemically wear away the tooth structure. This is irreversible. Erosion can be easily controlled by avoiding brushing your teeth after vomiting and instead rinsing with water or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) mixed with water to neutralise the acid.

· Salivary and oral microbiome changes. In pregnancy there are changes to the flow, composition, pH and hormone levels of saliva as well as to the microbiome. There's nothing you really need to do about this however, changes to the microbiome can result in bleeding gums. Hello toothbrush, interdental aids and probiotics.

· Moving teeth (tooth mobility) – this may result from changes in the structures that attach the teeth to the gum and bone or to a pre-pregnancy condition. If you’re concerned, get it checked out. If there's no underlying condition, it will usually resolve post-partum.

· Oral thrush (candida) – you may notice creamy lesions inside the mouth, redness or soreness, bleeding or loss of taste. This is a fungal infection which can occur in the mouth due to changes in hormones, the microbiome and immune system. Try rinsing with warm salt water and see your dentist for advice.
 
Although it's not always easy in pregnancy, ensure you’re getting a balanced and nutrient dense diet rich in fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. You may wish to consider an oral probiotic. Brush, floss or interdental clean and tongue scrape. It’s very important to see a dentist if you are concerned or are experiencing pain. Elective dental treatment should be taken care of in your second trimester if possible. Remember, prevention is always better than cure.

☀️🦋❤️Wishing you all a beautiful, bountiful and blissful pregnancy. Please feel free to reach out to me for any advice ❤️🦋☀️

Article references can be found here: https://drsurinderarora.com/blog/f/oral-health-for-mamas-to-be #VibrantPregnancy