Oral care needs greater focus during pregnancy

This story first appeared in Healthy You - July 2024, The Gazette’s quarterly health publication.

Despite prevailing myths (including that babies steal minerals from their mom’s teeth), pregnancy does not cause poor oral health and damage to teeth.

“People are like, ‘I’ve never had a cavity, and then I got pregnant and I’ve got four cavities,’” said Amy Throgmartin, an integrated hygienist at Eastern Iowa Health Center in Cedar Rapids who works to educate pregnant patients on the importance of good oral care. “It really has to do with our habits changing while we’re pregnant.”

There are several factors that increase your risk of dental problems during pregnancy.

Hormone changes

Throgmartin says the main issue for pregnant women is with hormone changes in the body, which can give bacteria in the mouth a chance to grow faster. These hormone changes can lead to increased inflammation, bleeding gums and even what’s called pregnancy gingivitis, which can affect 60 to 70 percent of women.

If pregnancy gingivitis goes untreated it can progress into a serious form of gum disease called periodontitis, which may lead to tooth loss. Periodontitis has also been associated with pre-term labor and low birth weight in babies.

Morning sickness

Vomiting brings stomach acid into the mouth, which can weaken your enamel. Dentists recommend that, instead of brushing your teeth right after vomiting, swish with water or a fluoride rinse first to reduce the acidity in your mouth.

Habit changes

The increased fatigue caused by pregnancy may cause women to skip brushing and flossing as much as they used to. It is especially important to brush before bedtime, so that sugars are not sitting on the teeth and gums all night. Starting your bedtime routine before you feel tired might help ensure it gets done.

Snacking

During pregnancy, not only do women experience food cravings, but they also tend to snack more throughout the day to satisfy increased hunger and help keep nausea at bay. If you’re going to eat or drink something sticky or sugary, have it with your meals instead of as a snack. That includes sugary drinks such as pop, juice and milk.

“Anything that we’re going to sip we want to just be water, something that has no sugar in it so you’re not constantly getting that sugar in the mouth throughout the day,” Throgmartin said.

In between meals, try to snack on healthier fruits and vegetables.

For prenatal vitamins, take a pill or capsule that is swallowed instead of chewable vitamins which have more sugar and can stick to and stay on your teeth.

Make oral care a priority

Throgmartin emphasizes to her patients the importance of getting good oral care during pregnancy.

“Most all dental services are safe and recommended during pregnancy,” Throgmartin said. This includes x-rays, local anesthetic and fluoride.

Always let your dentist know that you are pregnant so they can take extra precautions with your care. The second trimester might be the ideal time for a visit, after morning sickness has abated and before the increased size of the baby makes laying back in the chair uncomfortable.

Most gum problems caused by pregnancy hormones resolve after birth. However, good oral care continues to be important for the health of both the mom and the baby, because the mom can transmit bacteria from their mouth to the baby’s mouth by accident.

“Kisses, if we clean off a bottle nipple with our mouth and then give it to our baby, or a pacifier, those types of things can pass those bacteria into the mouths of a newborn or child,” Throgmartin said.