Pregnancy is a very special phase, in which there are numerous changes and hormonal peaks, with an impact on oral health.

Ideally, you should have a check-up with your dentist before becoming pregnant, in order to correct any complications or pathologies that could cause problems for both mum and baby.

Common Myths and Complaints

There are also various myths about pregnancy and oral health that need to be clarified. For example, if you’ve heard that pregnancy causes weakened teeth or a loss of calcium, these are just myths.

The calcium needed by the developing baby is supplied by the diet and is not removed from the teeth, since the presence of calcium in the teeth is stable.

However, it should be noted that during pregnancy some women experience changes in their eating habits, such as more frequent and higher carbohydrate intake, factors that may increase the risk of developing dental caries lesions, especially if oral hygiene care is neglected.

Nausea and vomiting, which appear more frequently in the first trimester of pregnancy, also contribute to greater acidity in saliva, which can promote tooth erosion.

Inflamed gums and bleeding gums are also a fairly common complaint in pregnant women, due to the hormonal changes that occur during this phase.

Care during pregnancy

So what precautions should pregnant women take to minimise the effects on their oral health?

• Brush teeth 3x/day with paste containing at least 1000ppm fluoride;
• Use dental floss before brushing 1x/day;
• Use an alcohol-free mouthwash with fluoride;
• And very importantly: drink plenty of water and, if necessary, chew some xylitol tablets.

A visit to the dentist at least once during pregnancy is also essential for counselling and diagnosis.