Pregnant women with tooth decay how does it affect the fetus?

The article was written by Master, Doctor Pham Thi Huyen Trang - In charge of Dental - Jaw - Facial Unit - Interspecialty Department - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Pregnant women with tooth decay not only affect the health of the mother but also adversely affect the development of the fetus and the completeness of the baby's teeth later. So what should pregnant women with tooth decay do?
1. Pregnant women with tooth decay increase the risk of premature birth 1.1 Changing lifestyle and physical habits during pregnancy makes pregnant women more prone to tooth decay and periodontitis than usual Difficult to clean the inner molars: Pregnancy Women often eat many meals with a small amount, so there is always acid in the mouth, which can cause tooth decay. Especially during tired morning sickness, it is difficult for pregnant women to clean the inner molars. Elevated female hormones: Elevated female hormones during pregnancy are more likely to cause gingivitis than usual. This is what causes periodontitis during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the nature of saliva is changed, making the mouth always feel sticky, creating conditions for bacteria to grow leading to tooth decay. 1.2 Pregnant women with tooth decay, periodontitis will increase the risk of miscarriage, 2-3 times more premature birth Since 1996, scientists around the world have proven: Pregnant women with tooth decay and periodontitis will have an increased risk of miscarriage, 2-3 times more preterm birth, and more prone to preterm labor. convulsions, low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg). When the mother has gingivitis, periodontitis, some harmful bacteria will appear in the mouth. These bacteria move from the oral cavity to the placenta, increasing the physiological concentration in the amniotic fluid, causing premature labor, premature birth, and low birth weight. In addition, during pregnancy, when the mother has gingivitis, the amount of calcium absorbed by the mother will decrease, which is the cause of the baby's low birth weight and unhealthy.

2. Pregnant women with caries increase the risk of tooth decay for babies right from birth 2.1 Baby's teeth form in the womb Baby's teeth are formed around 6~7 weeks of pregnancy. From the 16th week of pregnancy, enamel and dentin develop to cover the tooth germ. After that, the crown (also called alveolar bone) is formed to cover the tooth root and the pulp is the inner nervous system. From 6-7 months after birth, the baby's baby teeth will fully develop, emerging from the gums.
2.2 Bacteria that cause tooth decay can be transmitted from mother to child if a pregnant woman has tooth decay Bacteria that causes tooth decay are not present in the baby's mouth right after birth, but are actually transmitted from the mother's mouth or those around her. baby kissing, feeding baby food (from straws, chopsticks or spoons used by adults). Bacteria that cause tooth decay rapidly multiply as soon as the tooth erupts. In which, the period from 6 months to 3 years old is the period when babies are most susceptible to bacteria infection. Babies born to mothers with many cavities are also at a higher risk of early tooth decay. Therefore, maintaining oral hygiene is not only good for the mother but also determines the oral health of the baby in the future. The ideal way is to start preventing tooth decay in the baby right from the mother's oral care during pregnancy. 3. Oral care for pregnant women with caries Brush teeth twice a day (morning, evening) Clean between teeth with floss once a day Rinse mouth clean after eating Take tartar and check your health Periodic dental care Pregnant women with tooth decay need to take good care of their teeth during pregnancy
4. Diet for pregnant women with caries Increase foods rich in calcium and phosphorus Maternal nutrition is especially important in pregnancy. The process of forming baby teeth includes minerals such as calcium, phosphorus... In this period, if the mother's nutrition is not reasonable, it can make the baby's teeth later weak or prone to tooth decay. In particular, calcium is good for the development of teeth, creating strong teeth.
Increase the use of calcium-rich food sources Especially pregnant women with tooth decay should pay attention to increase the use of calcium-rich food sources such as field crabs, shrimps, small shrimp, mercury-free seafood, milk and calcium-rich foods. dairy products (yogurt, cheese, pasteurized milk...), black and white sesame; some vegetables (banana, kiwi, oranges, broccoli, bok choy, spinach, water spinach, beans, celery, carrots...).
Pregnant women with tooth decay during pregnancy not only affect their own health but also affect the health and oral health of children. Therefore, mothers should check their teeth before pregnancy, and take good care of their oral hygiene.
To protect the health of pregnant women and their babies during pregnancy, Vinmec International General Hospital provides a package of maternity services as a solution to help pregnant women feel secure because of the companionship of the medical team. doctor throughout pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of highly qualified doctors Regular check-ups, early detection of abnormalities The Package Maternity package helps to facilitate convenient for the birthing process Newborns get comprehensive care