Dental emergencies only happen when you neglect your oral health. Pre-existing dental diseases can aggravate during pregnancy and not much can be done during this time. Any kind of sudden tooth pain can put both the mother as well as the baby under stress. So it is always better to take precautionary measures and get dental treatments done before planning your pregnancy.
Yes. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause your gums to become inflamed, puffy, and red. Even a slight pressure during this time can cause your gums to bleed as they become very sensitive. This is called pregnancy gingivitis.
Dental treatments are not done during the first and the third trimester. The second trimester is considered safe for any emergency treatments taking into consideration the severity of pain and comfort of the patient. Short appointments and morning appointments are considered.
All emergency and non-emergency dental treatments like teeth cleaning, fillings, caries removal, root canal procedures, etc are safe during the second trimester of pregnancy provided necessary precautions are taken. X-rays are harmful during all 3 trimesters, but in an emergency situation where an xray needs to be taken, the patient is made to wear a lead apron and a thyroid collar as protection.
Yes, you can get a teeth cleaning procedure done during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. The dentist will preferably schedule a morning appointment and try to keep it as short as possible. It can also be done in two sittings depending on the case.
Take care not to take any medications without consulting your gynecologists. Antibiotics like tetracyclines during pregnancy are contraindicated as they cause permanent brown stains on the baby’s teeth. Make sure drinking water contains not more than 1ppm of fluoride, as this can cause permanent white chalky areas on the teeth called teeth fluorosis. Make sure you also eat healthy for your baby’s strong teeth.
The second trimester is usually the safe time to get teeth cleaning done.
Oral contraceptive pills usually contain estrogen and progesterone, which causes gum inflammation. Newer oral contraceptives pills in the market contain lower levels of estrogen and progesterone, which reduce the severity. Puffy red gums, bleeding gums, and swollen gums are usually the signs of poor gum health.
Red and puffy gums that bleed even with a slight amount of pressure, a small ball like swelling on your gums that may not be very painful are some signs that indicate you have poor gum health and you need to show it to your dentist.
Yes, long-term effect of oral contraceptives can affect your gums as well as bone health. Problems like bleeding gums, dry mouth, and dry sockets after teeth extractions can occur. Studies also show women on long-term oral contraceptives are more to gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis.
Usually popping one pill will not affect your gums as much as the use of long-term oral contraceptives would. So you need not worry about your gum health if it’s very occasional.
Severe dental pain during the second trimester of your pregnancy can be dealt with. The second trimester is the safest period to get your dental emergencies in control. However, do not pop any medications without the prescription of your dentist and the consent of your gynecologist.
Yes, you can definitely try home remedies for dental pain during pregnancy. However, they will help you only temporarily. To get rid of your tooth pain completely, tele consult your dentist for emergency medications and help.
No. Your child will not get a tooth cavity if you have any while you’re pregnant. Your child’s first tooth will appear at the age of 6 months. However, you should maintain good oral hygiene though.
To avoid tooth pain during pregnancy one must get a pre- pregnancy dental checkup. Getting a dental checkup before planning your pregnancy can save you from emergency dental problems that put you as well as the baby under stress during the phase.