Does Pregnancy Affect Your Oral Health?
Studies have shown that the oral microbiome changes for pregnant women are there may be an increase of bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities. Despite this increase, and other factors affecting pregnant women, there are ways that you can control potentially harmful bacteria to maintain your and your baby's health.
How Does Pregnancy Affect Oral Health?
During pregnancy, a woman’s body is going through a lot of physical changes, and she may be making changes to her lifestyle. A few possible changes that can impact maternal oral health include:
Snoring
Studies have shown that mothers have an increased risk of sleep apnea and snoring while pregnant. This is likely because of the dramatic change in weight that can impact the airway in your throat, especially when sleeping on your back. The excess baby weight puts pressure on the airway and narrows it, preventing good airflow and leading to the sounds of snoring. Improper airflow also affects unborn children. If fetuses are not receiving enough oxygen, they can be at risk for preterm birth with low birth weight or developmental problems like an underdeveloped jaw. This means crooked teeth and improper bite, which can impact the ability to eat properly and make it more difficult to properly clean in between the teeth.
Snoring has also been linked to enamel hypoplasia (lack of or very thin enamel) in children; this weakens their teeth and increases the risk of cavities because cavity-causing bacteria can more easily penetrate the teeth. If you snore, try using a humidifier, elevate your head and neck, and use nasal strips. If symptoms persist, please visit your doctor as soon as possible for other treatment options.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency is also something to consider since recent studies have shown it can also lead to enamel hypoplasia in children. Tooth calcification begins at about 13 weeks and without a proper level of vitamin D, the teeth cannot develop properly. Undeveloped or weak teeth could be more at risk of cavities because they don’t have a strong protective enamel layer. It’s important to remember that the nutrients you consume are also nutrients that your fetus needs to develop properly. Dairy, salmon, spinach, egg yolks, mushrooms, and soybeans are all great sources of vitamin D and other necessary nutrients like arginine. Arginine is an amino acid naturally found in our saliva, but arginine-rich foods give your oral health an even bigger boost. Arginine keeps the pH level in the mouth balanced and helps prevent cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to the teeth.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is most common during the first trimester, but nausea and vomiting can affect women at any point during pregnancy. Nausea can also occur throughout the day, not just in the morning. When people vomit, their teeth are coated in stomach acid which can break down the protective enamel layer on the teeth. This can lead to tooth decay if you do not rinse and brush your teeth after a bout of sickness.
Gag Reflex
Some pregnant women experience a more sensitive gag reflex which can make it uncomfortable to brush their teeth. Vitamin D deficiency is often a cause of this. There might also be a sensitivity to the taste of toothpaste because of changes in taste perception during pregnancy. Because of these factors, pregnant woman might not brush their teeth as often which increases their risk of developing cavities and gum disease. A sensitive gag reflex could also be a sign of an undiagnosed and untreated tongue tie.
What Types of Oral Diseases Are Pregnant Women at Risk Of?
Pregnant women may be at a higher risk for a wide range of oral health problems. Some of the most common are:
· Cavities (dental caries)
· Gum diseases like gingivitis (mild) and periodontitis (more severe)
· Loose teeth because of hormone fluctuations; these typically resolve postpartum
· Pregnancy tumors: red, swollen growths on the gums caused by increased estrogen; these are not cancerous and typically resolve postpartum
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Pregnancy gingivitis is an especially common concern. Fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy increase blood flow to the gums, making them more sensitive to harmful bacteria. Women who have gingivitis before getting pregnant may also find that their condition exasperates during pregnancy because of increased blood flow and unknowingly breathing through the mouth. Breathing the mouth cause inflammation in the nasal passages and changes in the pH of the mouth. This makes it harder to breathe through the nose, creating a cycle of worsened breathing problems and increasingly worse gingivitis. This, combined with morning sickness, can exacerbate things even more.
How Do Oral Health Conditions Affect Babies?
Children are about 75% more likely to develop early childhood cavities if the mom or caregiver has active cavity-causing bacteria. Poor oral health can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes, affecting children before they are born. The inflammatory effects of gum/periodontal disease have been linked to low birth weight, preterm birth, and preeclampsia. Pre-term infants with low birth weight are more likely to have harmful cavity-causing bacteria colonizing in their mouths as early as one week after birth. It’s also possible that children born vaginally versus those delivered through a C-section have different oral microbiomes.
Children can also acquire cavity-causing bacteria (particularly strep mutans) at a young age through transmission. This can be a parent kissing their child on the lips, sharing silverware, or babies sucking on the same toys. These potential risks might sound scary, but they are relatively uncommon and can be easily prevented with a good oral health plan, including a healthy diet and lifestyle factors.
Preventing Oral Disease During Pregnancy
Dental hygienist Carrie Ibbetson is dedicated to helping you create a great oral health care plan before, during, and after pregnancy. Sign up today for our Oral Health Coaching Course and join our Facebook Community for courses on preventing oral disease during pregnancy and preventing the spread of cavities to your newborns and the rest of the family.
References
https://www.bristlehealth.com/blogs/oral-care/cavities-in-children-and-the-oral-microbiome
https://www.drstevenlin.com/snoring-during-pregnancy/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6086375/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3929977/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22536-l-arginine
