Surprising Ways Pregnancy Affects Your Teeth

Pregnancy changes your relationship to your body. You might be thinking more about what you eat or noticing every tiny twinge. Growing another human life requires a lot from you. We don’t like to another thing to your plate, but you should know that it can affect your oral health. And that can impact your baby.

Fortunately, Nisha Modi, DMD, is here to support you throughout your pregnancy and afterward. At Miracle Smile Dental in Aubrey, Texas, Dr. Modi and our team support you as you navigate the ways pregnancy affects your teeth. With preventative dentistry, Dr. Modi can help lower your risk of oral health issues, especially those that could affect your child. 

Pregnancy and your teeth

When you’re pregnant, your hormones shift (no surprise there). That comes with many of the changes you probably expect, but it can also take a hidden toll on your teeth.

Specifically, hormonal shifts reduce the amount of saliva your body produces. That matters because your saliva plays a big role in preventing cavities. It doesn’t just wash food particles from your teeth. It also helps to neutralize acids, control bacteria, and introduce the minerals your teeth need. 

With less saliva, pregnant women are twice as likely to get cavities, and more than 87% of them have untreated dental decay. 

That’s a problem because the bacteria behind cavities can be harmful to your baby. By addressing tooth decay, you protect your own oral health and also your child’s. 

Pregnancy and your gums

Roughly 75% of pregnant women have gum disease. Doctors call this pregnancy gingivitis. 

This problem develops because changing estrogen and progesterone levels increases blood flow to your gums. That makes them more prone to inflammation and irritation.

Research has linked gum disease during pregnancy to preterm birth and low birth weight. So if you’ve noticed redness, puffiness, or more bleeding when you floss, don’t wait to visit Dr. Modi. 

Getting the oral healthcare you need during pregnancy

It’s completely safe to visit the dentist while you’re pregnant. In fact, the American Dental Association, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that pregnant women get oral healthcare. 

Often, we can reverse gum disease and fill cavities safely during pregnancy. By getting the care you need to prevent oral health issues from growing, you protect your baby and your own oral health. 

If you want to see a dentist who provides dental care to pregnant women, schedule a visit with Dr. Modi. Use our convenient online tool, or call us at 469-765-3567 to book it today.