Is pregnancy related to oral health? The top interesting facts you must know?

What are pregnancy and its relation to oral and dental health?

Pregnancy is the condition in which a woman is trying to conceive a baby. In this condition, women commonly neglect their oral and dental health and do not follow up for a regular check-up. The myth that pregnancy does not affects dental health is strongly put down because studies have established the link between pregnancy and bad dental hygiene and health.

Pregnancy is accompanied by many conditions such as extreme nausea, excessive weight gain, and the rapid increase in the growth of the abdomen, all of these factors associated with pregnancy increase the sensitivity of gums and make them prone to inflammation and many different dental issues. This specific gum condition that occurs during pregnancy is called pregnancy gingivitis. 

How good oral health maintains good general health

Good oral health is the key element that promotes the good general health of the body. Any disease involving the gums makes it possible for the bacteria and their secreted toxins to enter the general circulation of the body. These toxins in the circulation cause many general health problems like sepsis, endocarditis, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and respiratory problems. In this way, general health is affected by bad dental health. So, it is necessary to keep care of the optimum dental and oral hygiene during the pregnancy to keep the general physical health in a good working condition. 

Many recent types of research have suggested that the bacterial toxins that enter the maternal circulation through the gums and other dental problems also have the ability to cross the placental barrier and enter the developing child’s body cavities. These toxins affect the child’s health by triggering an inflammatory response in the maternal body due to which the preterm fetus is delivered called preterm delivery PTD. 

Thus, the women are advised to maintain and strictly monitor their dental health in order to prevent disastrous outcomes on the mother and child’s health.

How good diet during pregnancy maintains the good dental health  

During pregnancy, the need for every type of mineral and vitamin is increased because the growing baby needs these vital compounds in an extra amount. So, the average intake of each mineral and vitamin has to be calculated during the pregnancy and pregnant women are advised to observe these calculations strictly. The mother’s body is in extra need of iron, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, and many other nutrients. These nutrients must be supplied in adequate amounts. These appropriate amounts also ensure good oral hygiene and functioning. The most important nutrients to be maintained are:

1. Inclusion of all food groups in the diet. The pregnant woman must include vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, fats, and whole grains in the diet to ensure the proper development of the growing child.
2. Generally, mother iron stores in the liver are deficient to meet the needs of the baby. So, upon the prescription of a physician, appropriate iron supplements must be taken by the mother in pregnancy. These iron supplements prevent the baby from any type of anemia. 
3. Optimized intake of folic acid also called vitamin B9 is also ensured by the physicians. These folic acid levels are required for the neural growth and development of the child.
4. A sufficient amount of all the fat-soluble vitamins is also needed. These vitamins include vitamin A, D, E, K

If any of the above-mentioned essential nutrients are deficient in the diet of a pregnant mother, there will be defects in the teeth development of the growing child. The process of teeth mineralization i.e. the development of dentin and enamel is also disturbed, so the teeth developed are weak and they decay very soon in the first decade of life. If all these essential nutrients are included in the right proportions in the mother’s diet, there will be optimized teeth development.

Fluoride intake during pregnancy and its effects on dental health 

 Fluoride is normally present in the right proportions in water to serve the best dental functions. But if in some areas, the water is fluoride deficient, then fluoride supplements are necessary.

Unexpected pregnancy cravings and tooth decay 

In pregnancy unusual cravings are common. Most of the time, pregnant women show aversion to all types of edibles and feel nauseated, but sometimes they show cravings for sugary and starchy foods. These excess sugary foods have the ability to dissolve and damage the enamel protection of teeth and thus lead to the development of cavities in the teeth. So, ultimately it would lead to teeth decay. In order to prevent these false dental health problems, less sugary foods should be preferred and all types of beverages must be excluded from the diet.

Calcium needs in pregnancy and its role in dental healthcare 

Calcium is one of the most important minerals that is required for the healthy development of teeth and bones. It was a myth long ago that extra needs of calcium by the developing baby are fulfilled by dissolving the mother’s teeth. But this myth has been debunked as the calcium in teeth cannot be dissolved once it is deposited. 

To meet the excess calcium requirements, the dietary intake of calcium must be enhanced. The pregnant mother is advised to maintain good calcium levels within the required range so that there are healthy teeth and bone development.

Hormonal changes in pregnancy and their effect on the dental health

In pregnancy, levels of many hormones like progesterone are increased remarkably. If the pregnant mother is already suffering from some dental issue, this rise in progesterone levels produces many prostaglandins, the substances which have the ability to stimulate an inflammatory response in the pregnant mother. This inflammatory response causes the swelling of blood vessels in the gums, giving rise to many other dental problems. So, during the pregnancy mothers should take extra care of their dental health.

Maintaining the proper diet, adequate sleep, and consulting a dentist regularly once every six months helps the pregnant mother to cope out with the challenges of good dental health maintenance during pregnancy. This will also allow the child’s proper and strong teeth development.