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Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Mother´s Dental Health Advice

With a baby on the way or just born, the last thing you have time to think about is your teeth. Cravings are out of control, none of your clothes fit, and your body is in the middle of one of the biggest changes it will ever go through.

However, if you do not practice good dental health during and after your pregnancy, there could be long-term consequences for you and your baby. With just a few extra steps, you can make sure that dental health is the last of your worries during this important time in your life.

The Myths About Mother’s Dental Health

There are some misconceptions out there related to pregnancy and oral care. One is that it’s not safe for pregnant women to go to the dentist because of X-rays and other procedures that could be harmful to the baby. That is absolutely not the case. In fact, the National Institutes of Health have done studies suggesting just the opposite.

At a minimum, you should continue with routine dentist appointments while pregnant. It’s also a good idea to visit your dentist if you are planning to become pregnant or shortly after you become pregnant. That visit can help set the course to ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy throughout your pregnancy.

Another myth is that teeth lose massive amounts of calcium during pregnancy because it’s being moved elsewhere in the body to support the growing baby. Again, that is not true. Rather, most dental changes that happen during pregnancy are caused by hormone changes in the body.

That said, it is important to increase your calcium intake during pregnancy to ensure that your body has enough calcium to support your baby’s development, especially in the third trimester. Prenatal vitamins typically contain calcium and other important nutrients like Vitamin D. Your obstetrician will advise if any additional supplements or dietary changes are needed during your pregnancy.

Oral Health Risks

Gingivitis is the most common dental issue for expecting mothers. 

High levels of the hormone progesterone creates more acid in the mouth during pregnancy, which can lead to gingivitis. Symptoms include red, swollen gums that bleed during brushing or flossing.

It’s important to see your dentist as soon as you notice any of these symptoms; if left untreated gingivitis can become a serious gum disease called periodontitis. The increased acid in your mouth can also travel to your baby, which increases the risk for premature birth and low birth weight.

Tooth decay is another risk during pregnancy, especially if you suffer from morning sickness. Acid in your mouth breaks down tooth enamel when you vomit. If you throw up often as a result of morning sickness, the level of acid in your mouth increases, as does the risk for tooth decay. Serious tooth decay can lead to cavities or even tooth loss.

The risk of dental problems does not go away entirely once the baby is born. Breastfeeding moms are at a higher risk for tooth decay if they don’t stay hydrated or slack on brushing and flossing.

Nursing mums also lose as up to 5 percent of their bone mass as their growing babies demand more calcium. This can lead to periodontal disease or gingivitis, both gum infections that can damage the gums and cause bone loss around the jaw. In order to prevent this, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet throughout your time breastfeeding, including lots of calcium and vitamin D.

The American Dental Association also reports an increase in teeth grinding among moms who suffer from neck and facial tension as a result of breastfeeding.

Treatment and Prevention

The best way to prevent issues like these is to step up your daily dental routine and stick with it during and after your pregnancy. Commit to thoroughly brushing your teeth twice per day and thoroughly flossing once per day. 

Make sure to drink lots of water to combat dry mouth (another cause of dental problems) and stick to a diet that’s low in sugar and starch. If the craving for sugar or carbs does strike, try to brush your teeth as soon as possible after eating those foods.

Routine dental procedures like cleanings, cavity fillings and X-rays are safe to be performed during pregnancy. Sitting in a dentist’s chair becomes more uncomfortable as you get farther into your pregnancy, so try to schedule these procedures during the second trimester if possible.

At Muaks Family Dental, we are committed to working with all of our new and expecting mums to provide the best dental care possible throughout pregnancy. Contact us to schedule an appointment or new patient consultation so we can set you and your baby up for success.

No matter how crazy things get during your pregnancy or in the months after your baby is born, don’t forget to take time out for yourself and your health. This applies to not just to your oral health, but your overall well being. Your body and your mind will thank you in the long run, and you’ll be at your best to take care of your new baby

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Natural Healing - PRGF - Endoret

Recent advances in medicine mean that it is now possible to use a patient’s own body to regenerate itself.  The PRGF – ENDORET (Plasma Rich in Growth Factor) technique separates growth factors from using a small amount of your own blood to repair and rejuvenate, effectively aiding the tissue healing and regeneration process.

Most Common Applications

• Dental Extractions
• Treatments with Implants
• Patients with loss of bone
• Treatment of periodontal defects

Benefits

• Accelerates the healing process
• Reduces inflammation
• Reduces the risk of infection
• Absence of pain
• Not tested on animals

Dr. Rodrigo Castillo is an approved specialist in carrying out this procedure.

PRGF has many uses in Dentistry. More information is available on the BTI website.

10 Fun Facts about Teeth and Smiles.....

1. It takes 43 muscles to frown but only 17 to smile.
2. A "smile" is top of the list of things we first notice when meeting a new person.
3. More than half of us wouldn´t tell a friend or a colleague if they had bad breath in fear of risking a friendship.
4. Our teeth and smiles are rated the second most important attractive feature by both men and women, only behind personality.
5. More than half of us would share our toothbrush with somebody: 24% to our partner, 18% to our child, 7% to a friend and even 6% to a celebrity.
6. One in five of us cannot remember when we last changed our toothbrush.
7. A toothbrush is the number one thing we cannot do without when we go on holiday.
8. If we only had five minutes to get ready in the morning, one in twenty would skip brushing our teeth.
9. Yellow is the colour that makes us smile the most, whereas purple makes us smile the least.
10. Chocolate is the food that makes us smile the most, followed then by Sunday Roast, a curry and a fry-up!

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Which is Best - A Bridge or a Dental Implant?

You will find here at Muaks Family Dental we try very hard to save natural teeth, with extraction always being the last possible option. If you do need to have a tooth out then it’s vital to think about how to replace it as soon as possible. Even a single missing tooth can have a detrimental effect on your dental health, allowing the rest of your natural teeth to drift out of position and into the empty gap which has a destabilising effect, while the opposing teeth will begin drifting towards the empty space, affecting your bite. There are two main options that you can consider which are to have a dental bridge or to choose a dental implant, but which can be best and why?

Why You Might Want to Consider Having a Dental Bridge

A dental bridge can be a great option if the teeth either side of your missing tooth could benefit from being crowned. In order to fabricate your dental bridge, we will need to grind down these adjacent teeth which will then be covered up with crowns that are attached to the replacement tooth called a pontic. It is relatively quick to have a bridge custom-made and the final results can look wonderful.

When Is a Dental Bridge Not Such a Good Idea?

If the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth are strong, healthy and look pretty good then it can be pointless having to grind them down just so they can be covered up with dental crowns. We hate removing any healthy tooth structure.  Additionally, these support teeth will need to be pretty strong as they will come under increased strain as you bite down on the replacement tooth or pontic.

Why You Might Want to Consider Having a Dental Implant

Dental implants are well worth considering, particularly when replacing a single tooth. As they are self-supporting, there is no need for us to make any type of changes to your existing teeth. An implant post replaces a natural tooth root, providing a similar level of stimulation and helping to ensure your jawbone remain strong and healthy. Dental implants protect your existing natural teeth by helping to share the load created whenever you bite or chew and they make sure your natural teeth stay in the correct positions. Although a dental implant can be a little more expensive initially, in the longer term it can save you money.

Who Can Have Dental Implants?

Just about anyone in reasonable health can have dental implants, but this treatment may not be the best option for everyone. We can tell you for sure when you visit Muaks Family Dental.  Contact us to find out more on 968 137 852. You will also find lots of information on our website at www.muaksdental.com and if you prefer, you can request a call back.

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