Should tooth decay while pregnant?

This article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Truong Nghia Binh - Obstetrician-Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

During pregnancy, each woman needs a larger amount of calcium than the average person to meet the calcium needs of the fetus. Therefore, if the pregnant mother has a calcium deficiency, the first disease that the pregnant mother will have will be related to the teeth. Especially, tooth decay is very common in pregnant women.

When pregnant at 24-25 weeks, this is the period when the fetus develops strong bones. The amount of calcium needed by the baby will be obtained from the mother's body. When the mother's blood does not have enough calcium for the baby, the body will definitely require an additional amount of calcium. And the first influence for this process is the bone tissue in the upper and lower jaw. As the fetus grows, the uterus gradually enlarges, causing the stomach's ability to store food to shrink, making pregnant women always feel full and fast. Pregnant women will often have to eat many meals a day with different snacks, especially sweets. These are also the reasons why pregnant women have tooth decay during pregnancy.
On the other hand, during pregnancy, a woman's body will have hormonal changes (estrogen and progestorome) that easily cause gingivitis, an increase in the accumulation of calcium and bacteria. These are the direct factors that easily cause tooth decay in pregnant women. Most of the time, when the tooth is not decayed, the mother will see that the root of the tooth is red and swollen. Although it is not painful, it is easy to bleed gums.

Maternal tooth decay during pregnancy will affect the fetus. There have been many studies showing that pregnant women with dental caries giving birth to babies will have an ineffective digestive system, a weaker immune system, and are more susceptible to diseases caused by poor diet and nutritional deficiencies for pregnant women. fetus.
The overgrowth of oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the gums, moving to the uterus. They trigger the production of a chemical called prostaglandin that fights infection. More dangerous when this substance has the ability to stimulate uterine contractions easily leading to premature birth.

With pregnant women should not have any intervention related to the teeth. For urgent or mandatory cases of tooth extraction or tooth decay treatment, every pregnant mother should go to a specialized dental facility to be examined for thorough advice from a specialist.

In cases of severe tooth decay during pregnancy, damaged teeth greatly affect the mother's ability to eat, maybe the doctor will prescribe temporary fillings. In mild cases, you should delay tooth extraction or any mechanical intervention on the tooth.
However, it should be noted that if it is necessary to have dental intervention, it should only be done when the fetus has passed the 4th month. Because in the first 3 months, it is extremely sensitive, very susceptible to pregnancy. Any impact on the mother's body also strongly affects the development of the fetus.

Pregnant women need regular oral hygiene to reduce the risk of oral diseases and to prevent future oral infections for the baby. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, if possible after each meal.

It is recommended to visit oral health twice a year to control plaque, prevent gingivitis and promptly detect signs of oral abnormalities.
For pregnant women who vomit a lot due to morning sickness, gargle with physiological saline or dilute baking soda solution. This will help neutralize the acid involved, reducing the risk of tooth decay during pregnancy.
A proper diet will keep your teeth healthy. Meals that provide enough calcium, low in acid and sugar will be very beneficial for the oral health of both mother and baby.
Oral health care for pregnant women is very important because it directly affects the health of both mother and baby. If there are any signs of tooth decay, bleeding gums or other dental problems during pregnancy, go to a specialized medical facility for timely examination and treatment.
Dental - Maxillofacial Specialist at Vinmec International General Hospital has long become a prestigious address in the field of oral health care. Faculty of Dentistry - Maxillofacial - Facial is one of the major and important sub-disciplines of the clinical block. Is a specialty in charge of intensive and aesthetic pathological treatment of the entire tooth structure (teeth, bone, pulp,...), jaw (palatine, jawline, jaw joint, ...) and face (frontal bone, cheekbone, temporal bone,...).
Doctor Truong Nghia Binh has over 13 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has high expertise and long experience in the diagnosis and treatment of Obstetrics and Gynecology diseases.