Expecting a child, whether it is your first or an addition to the family, can be an exciting time. There is plenty of planning to do for the future and a choice to make of what to call them. You may still be working for most of your pregnancy too and in addition to the excitement, there can be a number of challenges, not least the morning sickness which often accompanies it.<\/p>\n
It can also be a time when your teeth and gums can come under additional stress, and we will take a look at that in today\u2019s blog. If you find that what we discuss relates to you if you are pregnant, and would like to discuss this further, please do get in touch with SG Dental and Implant Centre. We are always happy to help.<\/p>\n
The most common problem during pregnancy relating to oral health is an increase in the risk of gum disease. This is largely caused by changes in your hormones during this time, and especially an increase in progesterone. This can make the gums much more susceptible to a build up of plaque and tartar. While there is nothing you can do about your hormones, you can make sure to pay more attention to your gums when you brush your teeth. Use a brush with healthy bristles (not worn ones) and make sure to brush around the gum line as well as your teeth. Staying well hydrated will help too and dehydration can be a problem during pregnancy which can be an issue as well. Make sure to drink plenty of water during the day rather than fizzy drinks which can damage your tooth enamel.<\/p>\n
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While your pregnancy isn\u2019t the cause of an increased risk of tooth decay directly, your change in lifestyle may well be. Cravings are well known at this stage and this may well include a significant number of sugary foods and drinks. When we crave something, we tend to want more and more of it and are likely to snack on these throughout the day. This causes additional problems as it doesn\u2019t allow the tooth enamel to recover between meals and makes it more vulnerable. As with gum disease<\/a>, the main thing that our expectant Burton patients can do is to try to control the cravings for sugary things as much as you can, but also pay good attention when cleaning your teeth. Spend time focussing on all areas of the teeth and gums and make sure to floss between your teeth as well.<\/p>\n One well known issue during pregnancy is morning sickness. Some people only suffer this for a short time while others really struggle with it. As the stomach acids pass over your teeth, they damage the enamel on your teeth. As you can imagine, if you suffer from this badly, your teeth could be at risk.<\/p>\n Once a sickness episode has ended, it is tempting to brush your teeth straight away to remove the taste in your mouth but this is the worst thing that you can do. When you have been sick, the acids will have softened the enamel and if you brush at this point, you will contribute to the wearing down the teeth by brushing more of it away.\u00a0 We recommend that any of our Burton dental patients<\/a> who have morning sickness refrain from brushing and allow around half an hour or more to pass before doing so. This enables the enamel to harden again. You can instead, rinse your mouth with water or perhaps a mouthwash recommended by one of our dentists to help take the taste away before brushing later.<\/p>\n Some people claim to \u2018breeze\u2019 through pregnancy, but this isn\u2019t the case for many. In addition to the sickness and cravings, it can be exhausting and make everything feel like a big effort. When this happens, not only can our diet worsen but we sometimes simply don\u2019t feel like brushing our teeth and just crawling straight into bed. While this is understandable, it is essential that you brush your teeth well before you go to bed. Failing to do so is almost certain to lead to more dental problems during your pregnancy.<\/p>\n If you pay attention to the issues above and also make sure that we are aware of your pregnancy so that we can offer the appropriate advice and treatment, you should avoid the worst of these potential problems. Once your child has been born, we recommend that you book an appointment at our Burton dental clinic so that we can examine your teeth for any problems that might have occurred during your pregnancy and help you get back on track.<\/p>\n For further advice on this topic or to book an appointment, please call SG Dental and Implant Centre on 01283 845345<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The anticipation of a new birth can be exciting but can also pose challenges to your teeth and gums. Expecting a child, whether it is your first or an addition to the family, can be an exciting time. There is …<\/p>\nAcid enamel erosion<\/h3>\n
Teeth cleaning regime<\/h3>\n