Good to Know
Pregnancy and your oral health care.
Having babies does not cause you to lose teeth. If you lose a tooth during your pregnancy it will be from some other cause. There’s an old wives tale about losing calcium from your teeth to feed your baby. Plain and simple, this is a myth.
Calcium for your baby comes from your diet and nutrition, not your teeth! If your body is lacking calcium then you need to make up for it in your diet whether it be increasing your intake of foods high in calcium or taking a supplement. hat does not mean that dental care isn’t important while pregnant, it just means don’t listen to old wives tales and take your guidance from your physician.
There is one area of dental health that you should pay attention to at all times, but especially when you are pregnant.
If you notice that your gums become swollen and you are pregnant, you should schedule an appointment to see your dentist and rule out periodontitis, a serious gum disease. Some research has shown that low birth weight and premature birth are linked to serious gum disease.
Practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing properly taking special care to clean around the gum line. To control gingivitis, you might want to increase your cleanings to include after all food intake during the second and third trimester.
Continue regular dental visits and treatments making certain that your dentist is aware of your pregnancy. One thing to avoid if you are or suspect that you are pregnant are x-rays.
Grinding your teeth.
Do you grind or clench your teeth? The medical term for this condition is “bruxism.”
Many people are not even aware they have this condition because it is done in their sleep. If you find yourself waking up in the morning with a painful jaw, earache, toothache or headache, this might be the cause.
Bruxism is potentially dangerous for the overall health of your teeth because the grinding and gnashing can wear away the enamel on the surface of the tooth. As the grinding continues and more enamel is removed the layer of actual dentin may be exposed. This can cause your teeth to become sensitive to hot and cold.
This condition would also remove you as a candidate for any type of cosmetic dental work until the tooth is repaired.
Causes for bruxism are not well known, although stress, insomnia and a “bad bite” are some suggestions.
There is treatment available for bruxism and the best detection will occur at your regular dental checkup.
Sensitive teeth.
Does a shot of hot coffee in your mouth cause you to cringe with pain? Or does a nice bite of ice cream send you through the ceiling?
This is caused by exposing the layers of dentin below the enamel. The exposed portion of your tooth (above the gum line) is covered with enamel and the lower portion (beneath the gum line) is covered with cementum. This is what protects the softer material beneath it which is called “dentin.”
When the dentin is exposed the nerve endings are susceptible to changes in temperature, pressure and so on. This can be caused by combination of problems. Grinding of the teeth that creates wear on the enamel, cracking or chipping a tooth and periodontal disease are all possible culprits.
There are several different treatment options depending on the severity of the problem. That can only be diagnosed by your dentist so make certain you schedule your regular checkups.
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