Pregnancy represents a very delicate stage for a woman, this period brings with it a lot of changes. One of these changes can impact the dental status of the mother and can go on to affect the child. BABATUNDE ADELEKE shares what the period entails and how to mitigate against the oral negligence that occurs during the period, among other things.
D URING pregnancy, mother and child share a singular system where materials pass from the mother on to the child via the umbilical cord. These materials may range from bacteria (harmful and harmless) to digestible food particles and other materials. The early stage of pregnancy can cause dental emergencies and it is necessary that a pregnant mother takes good care of her dental health as much as she looks after the unborn baby.
Recent medical research has found out that there is a link between the dental health of a pregnant woman and the foetus in her. For example, a mother with a decayed tooth is more likely to give birth to a child who will experience dental decay earlier in life. This is because during the period of pregnancy, the bacteria responsible for tooth decay would have been passed on from mother to child. Mothers who have gum diseases have also been found to have high risk of premature birth or give birth to a low weight baby.
The period of pregnancy is also one that takes a toll on the dental health of the mother. This is because the body internal environment changes and it is usually accompanied with morning sickness. One of the symptoms may include vomiting and or acid reflux. As the vomit during this period is slightly acidic, it gradually softens and wears off the enamel crown of the teeth. To avoid this, dentists would usually advise pregnant women to do the following:
Rinse the mouth with water or a mouth rinse. This should be done immediately after vomiting.
Chew a sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production to neutralise the acid
Smear a little bit of tooth paste over your teeth with your finger
Wait at least thirty minutes before you brush your teeth; this is because the enamel at that point is soft and brushing immediately would erode the crown.
In the words of a dental expert, Dr Alex Nwogu, “In our society,people are very fond of neglecting their dental health. There are instances of people not consulting a dentist for as long as twenty years. Ideally an individual should see the dentist every six months.” He, however stressed that the six months’ interval is only for routine check-up and the dentist can fix another appointment as he deems fit based on clinical findings.
When he was asked about foods that pregnant women should avoid to promote dental health during pregnancy, he said: The under listed food items are not only to be avoided by pregnant women but by everyone in general. Foods containing refined sugar are to be consumed in moderation. The presence of refined sugar makes any food item a prime suspect in the cause of tooth decay.
There are four conditions that must be met before tooth decay can occur. The conditions include the presence of a sweet or susceptible tooth, the presence of refined carbohydrate or sugar, there must be the presence of bacteria and the last condition is time. Time is necessary for all the other factors to come into play. The presence of refined carbohydrate or sugar is where the diet of the patient comes in. It has been found that people who regularly consume sticky, sugary food items like chocolate bars, ice cream run a high risk of having tooth decay. These food items contain high level of refined sugar and when this comes in contact with the teeth and sticks there, over time, this can lead to tooth decay.
“The frequency of the diet and the quality and quantity is also of the essence. The mouth houses millions of microbes and when we consume sugary foods, the food sticks to the surface of the teeth and when we don’t get to remove the food substance or if brushing is not effectively done, the microbes moves in. The microbes are naturally occurring and there are millions of them in the mouth. They thus act on the food substance and this produces a weak acid and this demineralises the enamel surface of the tooth. This happens over a long period of time, that is why time is the fourth factor that is responsible for a cavity to form in the tooth.
A lot of people also believe that their toothpaste gives a 24-hour protection, that is not true. Any toothpaste at best guarantees only a 12-hour protection. That is why you must brush before going to bed in the evening. Else, anything that is consumed throughout the day will be acted on by microbes during the night. Brushing will help to remove the debris.
Dental pain predates the emergence of a dental emergency, Pain is defined by the association of pro-pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional stimulus that causes actual or potential tissue damage. Pain in any grade can predate a dental emergency, our body is an efficient machine and you should present at the clinic to find out why you are having a pain.
However, if you notice any type of swelling in the mouth; be it painful or painless, you should see a dentist. This is not limited to your mouth; you should see a dentist if you have a swelling on any part of your face.
The other factor that predates a dental emergency is trauma; this is a very common case in our society. People get rushed into the clinic after suffering from a trauma to the head and several other areas of their body that could lead to a facial bone fracture. It is documented that dental pain is the most painful pain a human can experience; it is way worse than labour pain.
He also spoke about the new fad in the world of dentistry; teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is of particular interest in this narrative because it is usually common among the female folks. Women have the numbers when it comes to teeth whitening because they are usually more conscious of their looks than the male gender.
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“The original tooth colour is never pure white; it ranges from light yellow to light brown. A number of people mistake scaling and polishing for teeth whitening. Scaling and polishing refers to professional teeth cleaning and removal of food remains and debris from the teeth surface. After the scaling and polishing, the original tooth colour is seen and most patient get to appreciate it. Most people want to take it a notch higher by whitening.
Today, there are a lot of teeth whitening products and you can carry out your teeth whitening from the comfort of your home or office. It should however be known that there are a lot of fake whitening product in the market.” Dr Nwogu implored people to read up reviews about products before they go ahead and buy it.
While addressing the choice of the various means people use in whitening their teeth, he condemned the usage of charcoal teeth whitening powder. “Charcoal itself has a gritty surface and can cause wearing out of the teeth. While it may give a feel-good feeling and it removes stains, but over time it erodes the topmost layer of the teeth.”
He admonished that dental whitening should instead be done at the dental clinic. If it is going to be self- administered, the product to be used must be recommended by a dentist. The major side effect of teeth whitening is sensitivity, but that has reduced over time. In recent times, the cosmetics dental industry has invested a lot of funds into products that are soft-tissue friendly and can reduce the risk of sensitivity. In all, you should seek the advice of your dentist and also read the instructional manual tucked into the product before using it. That way, you don’t get confused along the way.
