Pregnancy Toothache
Expectant mothers often deal with toothache pain by hoping that the ache goes away by ignoring it. This is mainly done with the preconceived notion that any ill effects on the baby arising from medications needed to be taken should be avoided. With this misconception, expectant mothers tend to just ignore the pain of pregnancy toothache and do away with taking over-the-counter pain reliever pills.
Although, there are medicines that are safe for lactating women, if you are one of those who want to make sure that no harm will come to your baby in alleviating toothache pain, then ignoring toothache is certainly not your option either.
A pregnancy toothache is caused by a variety of reasons. Hormonal changes are due to a progressive secretion of the estrogen and progesterone throughout the pregnancy. These changes set off a round of physical changes in a woman. Among these changes are gum softness and swelling. Consequently, making it easier for food particles to irritate the gums and get lodge in between teeth causing gum infections and oral cavities.
Furthermore, pregnancy causes calcium levels of the mother to relatively lower than to pre-pregnancy. As our babies grow in our wombs, they need more calcium from us to help in their bone formation. Calcium deficiency in expecting mothers can affect the teeth and gums.
Pregnancy gingivitis is also a common complaint among soon-to-be mothers. It is a condition brought about by exaggerated response of the body to dental plaque, wherein the tissues of the gum area are swollen and inflamed caused by build up of bacterial film.
Dental problems are also primary reasons for toothaches in pregnant women. Pregnancy does not shield us from experiencing wisdom tooth growth, tooth decay and gum infections. All the more, we become susceptive to these, especially toothache decay, as we cope with the different whims our body wants us to take. An example would be, women during these times often gravitate towards sweets and sugary food. Increase in sugar intake raises our chances in getting the most dreaded toothache.
Thus, it is certainly common for pregnant women to experience toothache pain during pregnancy. And the notion to ignore the pain is simply a NO-NO. Ignoring toothache pain adds to the stress level our body is already experiencing. And more stress for the mother is even worse than taking heed of your toothache pain as this directly affects your unborn baby. A number of pregnancies with toothache experiences result to low birth weight and premature babies.
We must remember that pregnancy toothache is not caused by the hormones, but by bacteria build up. Thus, proper oral hygiene must still be religiously practiced and constant trips to the dentist for cleanings and check ups are highly recommended. Should you be experiencing sudden toothache pains in the middle of your pregnancy, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist for a quick check up to avoid unnecessary complications.
