A soul inside; waiting for life.ย Pregnancyย is a beautiful journey when a woman gets to enjoyย company inside her own self. There are many things to be concerned about when you areย expecting. Right nutrition, getting adequate rest, taking vitamins, discussing (arguing!) with yourย husband aboutย babyย names and so on. During this time the โmom to beโย tends to focus more onย her bundle of joy that they neglect their own health.ย ย
With pregnancy comes physiological changes in the body. Being proactive is more importantย during pregnancy and special attention is required towardsย oral care. Hormonal changes duringย pregnancy may lead to oral issues. A study mentions that in India 60% ofย pregnant womenย haveย some dental issues. Bleeding gums, sensitivity, tooth pain are some common issues (Source:ย PubMed Central).ย Oral hygieneย plays an important role in safe motherhood.
ORAL ISSUES DURING PREGNANCYย
Gum Diseasesย During pregnancy, women commonly get affected with inflamed and irritatedย gums commonly known as pregnancy gingivitis. This is a mild form of gum disease that commonlyย occurs between second and eight months of pregnancy. If left untreated, it can even lead toย periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease. Gum diseases can also lead to preeclampsia; a condition leading to a sharp increase in blood pressure.ย
Dry mouthย Hormonal alterations during pregnancy may cause dry mouth. Without enough salivaย to wash away the debris and bacteria, teeth are more susceptible to plaque build-up, caries andย cavities. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated may help.ย
Acidityย Along with nausea, stomach acid can reach the mouth and erode the teeth enamel. Vomiting is more common during the initial months of pregnancy and this increases the acidicย environment in the mouth. Frequent snacking also keeps the teeth in contact with sugar. Bacteriaย in the oral cavity feeds on these sugars and increases acidity in the mouth which may weakenย teeth enamel.ย
Risk of cavitiesย Women are more prone to cavities during pregnancy. Consuming moreย carbohydrates can cause tooth decay. Morning sickness increases the amount of acid in theย mouth which also may eat away the tooth enamel.ย
MOMโSย ORAL HEALTHย AFFECTS BABYโS HEALTH TOOย
Taking care of yourself is taking care of your baby. Bacteria in the oral cavity may enter theย bloodstream and travel to the uterus. This may trigger the production of chemicals which mayย cause preterm labour. Even after the baby is born, poor oral hygiene of the mother can passย harmful bacteria to her baby.ย ย
BRUSHING FOR TWOย
When a pregnant woman is brushing her teeth, she is brushing for two people. Good oral hygieneย is important as this affects the babyโs health also. If you are brushing your teeth twice a day,ย flossing and rinsing with a mouthwash; keep up the good work. If the answer is no, then this is aย good time to start immediately as poor oral hygiene habits during pregnancy may lead toย premature delivery, preeclampsia ad gestational diabetes.ย ย
NUTRITION FOR ORAL HEALTHย
Watermelons dipped in pickle juice, onions with peanut butter, crushed ice cubesโฆPregnancyย affects the sensory experience with food, sense of aroma and the mood, all of which determinesย
which type of food you crave for. You might have heard tales of loved ones sent far and wide, atย all times to fulfill an expectant momโs desire.
In addition to practicing regular oral hygiene routine consuming a variety of healthy foods likeย fruits, vegetables, dairy products or cottage cheese would help in keeping the oral cavity healthy.ย Meat, fish, chicken eggs and nuts also make good choices. Increasing the amount of calcium willย help to protect your teeth and bones as well as the needs of your developing baby. Good sourcesย of calcium include; milk, cheese, sugar-free fruit yoghurt and nuts. Vitamin D helps the body toย utilize the calcium. Sources of calcium include mackerel, salmon, fatty fish like salmon andย margarine.ย ย
Babyโs teeth start developing between 3 to 6 months of pregnancy, so eating well can help inย healthy forming of babyโs teeth. Taking folic acid supplements, consuming food rich in folate andย drinking plenty of water will help to keep your and your babyโs teeth healthy and strong. Limit orย avoid foods high in sugar like candies, cake and high sugar beverages.ย
Pregnancy comes with many responsibilities and taking care of your oral health is no exception.ย The first thing a baby will see upon entering this world is your smile. Show a healthy smile to yourย baby!ย
Dente91 She Toothpaste is the first-of-its-kind toothpaste in India specially created to augment oral health of women. The toothpaste offers the powerful benefits of two unique ingredients; Nano Hydroxyapatite and Lactoferrin which help to reduce hypersensitivity, plaque and repair cavities. The toothpaste contains Folic acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B6, Vitamin E and Vitamin D3 which help in supporting womenโs oral health during pregnancy. It is also free from SLS, Fluoride, Paraben, Gluten, Peroxide and Triclosan making it pregnancy safe and safe for the fetus.
