HEALTH CARE

ORAL HEALTH DURING PREGNANCY

Intelligence & Care by Tasakhtaa Global Hospital

“Oral and dental health problems are of special importance in pregnant women. Hormonal changes in pregnancy, particularly estrogen changes and reduced immunity, can cause inflammation, bleeding, increased sensitivity to gingiva and increased risk of bacterial infection as a result, resulting in increased gum disease. However, it’s of no doubt only a small number of pregnant women consider oral health in their routine maternity visits, factors being low economy, lack of knowledge about its importance in pregnancy, not having dental problems which necessitates emergency dental intervention and never the least not giving importance.”

Is oral assessment important during pregnancy?

It is recommended that oral and dental assessment be done during pregnancy. Poor oral health has a direct negative effect in pregnancy both to the mother and the fetus health. The mass has little concern that poor oral health during pregnancy can lead to complications like low birth weight, premature rupture of membrane and preterm delivery. There are certain myths like “you can’t have your tooth extracted until you give birth” which hinders most pregnant women to seek for dental consultation even during their emergency dental incidences not knowing the risk of dental and oral diseases in the future of their pregnancy. Others even went on neglecting basic oral health care like teeth brushing with fluoride toothpaste and mouth washing as a result ending having periodontal diseases which may lead to teeth mobility or even falling out, although some blames it not to themselves but to the pregnancy itself saying “You have to remove at least one tooth in every pregnancy” which is in true sense not necessarily once you take care of your oral and dental health as it is recommended.

What brings dental diseases in pregnant women?

Among the group of people who are at high risk of having dental and oral diseases are pregnant women. Vomiting during pregnancy can lead to erosion of teeth due to some acid coming out during vomiting nevertheless if it occurs frequently, pregnancy itself can worsen the present gingival disease due to reduced immunity and increased blood flow to the gums.

What is the best time for treatment?

Whether the disease has developed during the pregnancy or it was there before the pregnancy it is highly recommended that all dental and oral problems be managed as soon as they are diagnosed so as to reduce the risks of interfering with the general health of both the mother and the child. The oral health management guidelines explain that if the dental management requires administering some medications or chemicals to the

mother during the procedure is its better be avoided in the irst 3 months so as to reduce the teratogenic effects of drugs to the fetus because this is the time of fetal development, also during the last trimester it is better to avoid elective dental treatment because the mother’s condition at that time may interfere with positioning during the treatment and might compromise her airway or blood circulation. The second trimester is considered to be the best time for dental management although as stated earlier emergency intervention should not wait for any trimester to come but it should be taken care accordingly. What should be done? It is the responsibility from doctors, nurses and the general public to encourage oral health assessment during pregnancy nevertheless including it in routine maternity visits so as to reduce the risks which might rise secondarily to negligence. For more information on oral health during pregnancy, please visit Tasakhtaa Global Hospital or call us at: +255 242 232341. Pictures Courtesy of Tasakhtaa Global Hospital