Pregnancy causes changes in the mouth

Pregnancy causes changes in many areas of the body, and we often hear that the condition of the mouth has also changed as described below.

• ● Gums feel swollen
• ● Bleeding when brushing teeth
• ● Saliva looks sticky
• ● Pain in the teeth or gums

Those symptoms are caused by changes in the mouth due to pregnancy, and the changes are caused by a rapid increase in female hormones, which facilitates the growth of periodontopathogenic bacteria, increases the viscosity of saliva, and decreases the self-cleaning effect of the oral cavity.

《 Early Pregnancy Care 》
During morning sickness, the amount of food you can eat at one time is reduced, so you will be hungry more often, and this is a time when you are likely to snack more often. You do not have to force yourself to take care of your oral health, but you should brush your teeth when you feel good. Use a toothbrush with a small head and avoid putting the toothbrush on the tongue to avoid vomiting and nausea. Avoid toothpaste with strong flavors or fragrances. If brushing is not possible, simply gargle with water.
Food preferences are likely to change during this period, and sloppy eating of sugary foods and acidic foods should be avoided.

《 Care in the middle trimester of pregnancy 》
As the uterus grows, the amount of food eaten at one time decreases, so this is a time of increased hunger and snacking. During pregnancy, the amount of saliva is reduced and self-cleaning is weakened, so brushing your teeth should be done after each meal.
Mid-pregnancy is the best time to receive dental care because your health is stable. If you have any concerns, this is the time to see a dentist.
Since you will be busy after childbirth, this is a good time to be proactive and visit the dentist for treatment and plaque removal to clean up your oral cavity.
Local anesthesia may be given when dental work is needed, but it is a very small amount and will not affect the fetus. X-rays are also not a problem if protective clothing is worn. The use of medications should be avoided as much as possible. Medications needed for dental treatment after the second trimester of pregnancy will be chosen to be safe to take, but if you are unsure, you should consult your dentist, pharmacist, or obstetrician.

《 Care in the second trimester of pregnancy 》
This is the time of year when you are busy with work, housework, and other organizational tasks in preparation for after the baby is born, but be careful not to neglect brushing your teeth.
If a mother's mouth is unhealthy, she may transfer bacteria to her baby, so take care of oral care as she prepares for the birth.

Pregnancy is a vulnerable time for tooth decay and periodontitis.Necessity of oral care

As we have mentioned, during pregnancy, you are more susceptible to tooth decay and periodontitis, so be sure to brush your teeth after meals and gargle more than normal.
If you cannot brush your teeth, gargle with a dental rinse or water.
Newborn babies do not have caries-causing bacteria called mutans, but there is a possibility of transferring caries-causing bacteria to babies if the spoon used by the parents is used for baby food or if an adult gives the baby food that has been chewed by the parents. If a mother has carious teeth, there is a higher probability that her child will also have carious teeth, so it is important to take good care of your child during pregnancy.

To have a healthy babyOral health is important even before pregnancy

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that destroys the gums and alveolar bone.
Pregnant women with periodontal disease are about five times more likely to have preterm labor than pregnant women without periodontal disease. The increase in female hormones during pregnancy increases the response to inflammation and facilitates the growth of periodontal disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. Gum disease can cause the body's own cells to overproduce substances that signify childbirth, which can cause the uterus to contract and lead to premature delivery.
Prevention and treatment of periodontal disease is important during and even before pregnancy in order to have a healthy baby.

Some people may think that pregnancy makes their teeth worse because the baby takes calcium from the teeth, but this is not true. However, there have been many women in the past who have had periodontal disease that caused their teeth to deteriorate each time they became pregnant. But I am sure that this is because there were many women who had periodontal disease in the past, which caused their teeth to deteriorate every time they became pregnant.
Pregnancy increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, but you can prevent gum disease by taking better care of your teeth than usual. We want to make sure that we maintain good oral health especially during pregnancy so that we can have a safe and comfortable delivery.