Prevention and treatment of caries during pregnancy

Why does dental health worsen during pregnancy?

As soon as a woman finds out she is pregnant, she should take extra care of her teeth and visit the dentist regularly. Caries at any stage is common, and it is important to prevent its occurrence or treat it at the initial stage.

In this article

• Why does dental health worsen during pregnancy?
• The effect of caries on pregnancy
• Treatments that are suitable for pregnant women
• Do pregnant women undergo anesthesia and X-rays?
• Features of caries treatment in different trimesters
• Is it possible to have teeth removed during pregnancy?
• Prevention of caries during pregnancy

Why are pregnant women’s teeth more susceptible to caries than others? There is an opinion that the fetus developing in the womb “takes” all the calcium from the mother’s teeth, which leads to caries in pregnant women. In fact, this is nothing more than a myth. And the real reasons for the development of dental caries during pregnancy are completely different.

• Changing eating habits

Pregnant women often change their taste habits and diet towards the “wrong” ones. Either they want something sweet, or they crave something sour. In the early stages of toxicosis, sometimes there is no desire to eat anything at all, and in the later stages, in order to drown out heartburn, the pregnant woman constantly chews something. Such changes in diet cannot but affect the condition of the teeth. The risk of developing caries during pregnancy especially increases when a woman eats a lot of carbohydrate and sweet foods. It serves as a food source for cariogenic bacteria, which convert sugar into acid that is destructive to tooth enamel. Frequent meals cause food to remain in the mouth for a long time and create excellent conditions for the growth of microbes.

• Toxicosis

This unpleasant condition in pregnant women is often accompanied by vomiting. These masses contain a large amount of hydrochloric acid, which is harmful to tooth enamel. It damages its structure, making it thinner, more fragile and permeable to bacteria. To prevent the harmful effects of hydrochloric acid on teeth, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with a soda solution after vomiting.

• Hormonal changes

During pregnancy, the amount and composition of hormones in the female body changes. Against this background, a decrease in immunity occurs, and the composition of saliva also changes. If in normal times it has a powerful bactericidal effect and effectively fights cariogenic bacteria, then during pregnancy its disinfecting properties are noticeably reduced. This promotes the active proliferation of microorganisms in the oral cavity and increased formation of dental plaque.

• Improper hygiene

This is one of the most common causes of caries, and it is not always associated specifically with pregnancy. But it has been noticed that pregnant women, due to poor health, toxicosis, fatigue and other reasons, begin to pay less attention to proper teeth brushing and oral care, which can contribute to the development of caries.

• Lack of minerals

Although the fetus, as we already know, contains calcium from the mother’s teeth, this important microelement is extremely necessary for the development of its skeletal system. Therefore, from the nutrition that a pregnant woman receives, part of the nutrients goes to the development of the fetus. As a result, the concentration of minerals in the blood and saliva decreases, which leads to demineralization of the enamel - the first stage in the development of carious lesions. This is why it is so important during pregnancy to increase the intake of minerals into the body by adjusting the diet or taking special vitamin and mineral complexes.

Caries in pregnant women: causes

There is a widespread belief among women that rapid tooth decay during pregnancy is associated with the fetus’ increased need for calcium and phosphorus.
But the increased need for calcium is compensated by the mother’s body not by leaching it from the teeth, but primarily by increasing its absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and reducing its loss in urine and sweat. This mechanism is hormonally determined. But besides this, the body has another mechanism that maintains a constant concentration of calcium in the blood of any person (including pregnant women). Maintaining normal calcium concentrations in the blood occurs due to slow osteoporosis of bone tissue. But the teeth do not suffer, and here's why. The fact is that mineralization of tooth enamel with calcium occurs due to calcium ions contained in saliva, the concentration of which in saliva is strictly tied to the concentration of calcium in the blood. And since, due to osteoporosis of bone tissue, its concentration in the blood is normal (and, accordingly, in saliva too), then the mineralizing function of saliva also does not suffer.

What then stimulates tooth decay in pregnant women?

Firstly, during heartburn and after vomiting, a large amount of gastric juice enters the oral cavity, i.e. hydrochloric acid, which helps wash out calcium from tooth enamel. Therefore, in case of heartburn and after vomiting, first of all you need to rinse your mouth with a soda solution (this will neutralize the acid), and it is not recommended to brush your teeth immediately. Immediately after exposure to acid, the surface layer of tooth enamel becomes porous and can be easily removed with abrasives.

Therefore, after heartburn or vomiting (as well as after drinking wine, fruit or fruit juice), it is recommended to brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush only after 30-40 minutes, using toothpaste with fluoride. Until this point, it is better for you to use a soda rinse, and after it you can immediately use a fluoride rinse. The second very important point is that studies show that 90% of pregnant women have worse oral hygiene (compared to the period before pregnancy).

The third reason is that insufficient hygiene is aggravated by eating disorders, i.e. constant snacking between main meals (anything containing flour, sugar and starch is especially harmful). Naturally, after snacking, people are not accustomed to brushing their teeth at all, and as a result, cariogenic bacteria in the oral cavity receive constant 5-6 meals a day, while constantly producing organic acids that destroy teeth. At the same time, after the next snack, it is absolutely not enough to simply rinse your mouth and chew gum, because... this does not allow removing plaque, as well as food debris that has accumulated between the teeth.

The effect of caries on pregnancy

Another common reason for the development of caries in pregnant women is that women are afraid to have their teeth treated while pregnant. There is a popular myth that caries cannot be treated for any period of time, allegedly it can harm the fetus. As a result, a woman can walk with caries for nine months, which during this time can move from the initial stage of the stain to a complicated form or pulpitis.

American scientists conducted a study and found that there is a direct connection between the amount of cariogenic bacteria in the oral cavity and premature birth or the birth of a child with low body weight. There is a hypothesis that the same bacteria contribute to the production of cytokines in the body of a pregnant woman - special substances that cause dilation of the cervical canal and contraction of the uterus itself. The greater the expansion of the canal, the greater the likelihood of premature birth.

Complications of caries, in particular pulpitis and periodontitis, can also affect the fetus. When the dental pulp becomes inflamed, the pathological process often spreads beyond the boundaries of the tooth. Toxins enter the blood and are carried by its current to other organs, in particular they reach the fetus and can negatively affect its development.

Thus, dental caries can be dangerous for a child, so diseased teeth should definitely be treated. Moreover, in pregnant women, the destruction of dental tissue occurs very quickly. It can take just a few weeks or months from the spot stage to deep caries.

When asked whether it is possible to treat teeth for pregnant women, dentists unanimously say: treatment of caries during pregnancy is acceptable and even necessary. The doctor will simply select methods and drugs approved for use in pregnant women.

Is it necessary to treat dental caries during pregnancy?

Myth three: caries can wait, especially if the tooth doesn’t hurt.

Answer: no, you shouldn't wait.

Treatment of dental caries during pregnancy is a mandatory procedure. Caries is an open source of infection that can easily enter a child’s body and cause caries. Therefore, treatment should not be delayed until better times, especially since very often the affected tooth begins to ache.

Contrary to common misconceptions, a pregnant woman should not endure toothache. Pain is a strong stress for the body, which can harm the health of the expectant mother and the health of the baby. The main thing is not to take painkillers at your own discretion. The right decision would be to visit a dental clinic and consult with a specialist.

Of course, it is advisable for the expectant mother to be treated for caries at an early stage of the disease - then it is possible to get rid of it without the use of a drill and, accordingly, anesthesia.

The following methods of stopping the carious process without drilling are available at the Eurodent clinic:

• the drug InnoDent;
• ICON technology.

Treatments that are suitable for pregnant women

If caries is detected at the spot stage, it can be treated with conservative methods without anesthesia, which will not cause the patient any pain or discomfort.

• Remineralization.

Tooth enamel is coated with gels containing large amounts of zinc, phosphorus, and calcium, while remineralizing compounds are applied not only to the lesion, but also to healthy enamel.

• Fluoridation.

The procedure is similar to the previous one, but the teeth are treated with fluoride-containing compounds. Fluorides strengthen tooth enamel and increase its resistance to cariogenic factors.

• Infiltration method.

A relatively new treatment method in which the stain is first treated with an etching gel, and after it is washed off and dried, a special substance, like a liquid filling, is applied to the surface, which seals the pores of the tooth. If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with medium or deep stage caries, it is too late to treat with conservative methods. In this case, surgical treatment will be required. The carious cavity is prepared with a drill, the affected tissue is removed and, after preliminary preparation of the cavity, it is closed with a filling.

Modern dentistry offers laser treatment as an alternative option. This method requires that the tooth is prepared not with a drill, but with a laser beam. The procedure is non-invasive and painless. The doctor determines which method is appropriate to use in each specific case.

How is caries treated during breastfeeding?

During the period of breastfeeding, caries is treated as usual: anesthesia is performed, after which the carious cavity opens, expands and is cleared of the affected tissue. Next, antiseptic treatment and filling of the cavity are performed. The final stage is grinding and polishing the filling. But we must keep in mind that unwanted substances from medications can enter the child’s body through breast milk. Therefore, before starting treatment, be sure to tell your dentist that you are breastfeeding. The doctor will select medications that will not harm the baby.

Do pregnant women undergo anesthesia and X-rays?

Expectant mothers are frightened not so much by the fact of visiting the dentist as by the procedures that they consider dangerous for the child, in particular anesthetic injections and x-rays.

Medium and deep caries during treatment can cause severe pain, so in most cases it is treated with anesthesia. For pregnant women, local anesthetics are used that pass through the placental barrier to a lesser extent, are quickly eliminated from the body, and do not constrict blood vessels. Today, Ultracain, Alfacain, Ubistezin, and Artifrin are often used for pregnant women.

If teeth are treated by a professional dentist in a good clinic, properly selected anesthesia will not have a significant effect on the health of the fetus.

As for general anesthesia, it is not performed on pregnant women. Therefore, if treatment under general anesthesia is needed, it will have to be postponed until the postpartum period.

Radiography is usually not performed on pregnant women, but if necessary, it can be replaced by an alternative method - radiovisiography. It involves minimal radiation exposure and acts locally. This diagnostic method is used if there is a risk of developing an infection and the source of inflammation needs to be accurately determined.

Classification of caries

The classifications of caries are based on different factors:

• an independent disease or a consequence of another process (caries in a filled tooth);
• location of the lesion;
• process depth;
• stage of the disease;
• presence or absence of complications;
• rate of caries development.

Caries is classified in different ways

Important ! When diagnosing caries in pregnant women, a classification based on the depth of damage to tooth tissue is often used.

The stages of caries are described in the table.

• Toothache at 38 weeks of pregnancy

A characteristic feature of the development of caries in pregnant women is the rapid spread of the process to deep tissues. As a rule, patients are treated at the stage of medium caries, since the superficial stage is asymptomatic. In the best case, the process is detected during a routine examination.

Features of caries treatment in different trimesters

• 1st trimester.

The period from the first to the 14th week is considered the most dangerous, since at this time there is a high risk of spontaneous abortion. The embryo is vulnerable and sensitive to the influence of stress factors and medications. Therefore, in the first trimester, teeth are usually not treated in order to avoid disturbances in the intrauterine formation of tissues and organs. The exception is emergency cases of acute pain or the development of a purulent inflammatory process. This usually occurs with complicated caries, turning into pulpitis.

• 2nd trimester.

During the period from 15 to 26 weeks of pregnancy, increased fetal growth occurs, but the risks associated with dental treatment are minimal. Therefore, during this period, caries can be treated and teeth professionally cleaned, taking into account the special situation of the pregnant woman.

• 3rd trimester.

In the period from 27 to 40 weeks, the weight of the fetus increases, it puts a lot of pressure on the internal organs of the pregnant woman, so it is difficult for a woman to sit in the dental chair. In addition, during this period the sensitivity of the uterus to external influences increases; there is a danger of premature birth due to stress if the patient is afraid to have dental treatment. Therefore, in the third trimester, as in the first, it is advisable to carry out dental treatment only for urgent reasons.

Anesthesia during pregnancy during dental treatment: what you need to know

Myth two: you cannot use painkillers when treating teeth.

Answer: you can.

Most people associate dental treatment with painful procedures. But today, most of these fears are completely unfounded - modern equipment and painkillers make it possible to treat or remove teeth with minimal discomfort. Will this treatment be safe for pregnant women? Our answer is yes, it will.

In cases where the procedure requires the use of anesthesia, the latest generation of local anesthesia drugs are used. It has been clinically proven that they act precisely, only on the place that needs to be anesthetized, and when they enter the bloodstream they are not able to overcome the placental barrier. They will not harm the child in any way, are well tolerated by the body and are hypoallergenic.

Adrenaline-containing anesthesia during dental treatment during pregnancy is strictly prohibited. It is no longer used in modern clinics, but before making an appointment, be sure to make sure that such an anesthetic is not used. If necessary, teeth can be removed, but with implantation or prosthetics it is better to wait at least until the baby is born (optimally until the end of breastfeeding). As for other surgical interventions, they are allowed to be performed only for medical reasons, for example, for purulent-inflammatory processes.

Is it possible to have teeth removed during pregnancy?

Sometimes, with advanced or complicated caries, tooth extraction is required. For a pregnant woman, this procedure is stressful, so teeth are removed only in extreme cases.

Indications for removal may be:

• large cyst (over 1 cm in diameter);
• fracture of the crown or tooth root;
• acute pain that is not relieved by other treatment methods;
• deep caries with suppuration.

Pregnant women, as a rule, do not have their third molars, the so-called wisdom teeth, removed.

This is due to the fact that after such an operation inflammation of the socket often occurs. To prevent inflammation, antibacterial drugs are prescribed, and it is not advisable to use them during pregnancy.

Folk remedies for toothache in pregnant women

1. An infusion of fresh lemon balm leaves for rinsing the mouth.
2. Pharmacy tincture of valerian. Soak a cotton pad and apply it to the sore tooth.
3. Medicinal decoction for rinsing from oak bark from ready-made raw materials.
4. Baking soda rinse solution. Thoroughly dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water.
5. Fir oil. Moisten a clean cotton pad and apply to the gum for 10 minutes. Can be repeated after two hours. The oil can only be used externally!

You can temporarily get rid of pain using folk remedies

Prevention of caries during pregnancy

The goal of preventive measures during pregnancy is not only to improve and maintain the woman’s dental health, but also to provide prenatal prevention of dental caries in the child. If pregnancy is planned, then it is recommended to cure all the teeth and carry out a complete sanitation of the oral cavity at the preparation stage. In this case, the risk of developing caries during pregnancy is reduced significantly.

It is advisable to begin preventive measures immediately after a woman becomes aware of her status as a future mother.

• Visiting the dentist.

It is recommended to undergo routine examinations with a dentist several times during pregnancy:

• from 6 to 8 weeks, the dentist will conduct an initial examination, clean the tooth enamel from soft plaque and hard deposits, and, if necessary, coat the teeth with special compounds containing fluorides, phosphates, and calcium;

• from 16 to 18 weeks, a woman visits a dentist for a routine examination and professional teeth cleaning;
• from 26 to 28 weeks - repeated examination and another coating of teeth with mineral compounds;
• From 36 to 38 weeks, a routine examination and repeated hygienic cleaning are carried out.

If dental problems are identified at one of the first appointments, the appointment schedule is expanded. Most often, dental caries treatment is carried out in the second trimester of pregnancy.

• Multivitamins with macro- and microelements.

It is important that vitamin-mineral complexes include calcium, vitamin D, fluoride and other components beneficial to dental health. Pregnant women can use any vitamin preparations only as prescribed by a dentist.

• Careful oral hygiene.

Pregnant women are advised to brush their teeth after every meal. Toothpaste for pregnant women should be low-abrasive, contain fluoride and calcium; for gum inflammation, additional pastes with herbal extracts are recommended. At the same time, pregnant women should not use toothpastes with triclosan, because they destroy the healthy microflora of the oral cavity. Be sure to clean only the surface of the teeth, but also the interdental spaces. To do this, you can use dental floss, floss, or a modern device - an irrigator.

Important! If you have toxicosis after vomiting, you should not immediately brush your teeth. Enamel that has just been exposed to hydrochloric acid is very vulnerable and susceptible to wear. Dentists recommend rinsing your mouth with a soda solution immediately after vomiting, and brushing your teeth only after 30 minutes.

• Nutrition correction.

To minimize the risk of caries during pregnancy, it is recommended to normalize the diet. Firstly, limit the consumption of sweets and starchy foods, which contain large amounts of carbohydrates - a source of food for cariogenic bacteria. Secondly, avoid snacking on sugary foods. Thirdly, balance the diet with macro- and microelements in order to receive large amounts of calcium, fluorine, phosphorus and other minerals from food that help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent the development of caries.

• Correction of acid-base balance in the oral cavity.

Pregnant women may have increased acidity in the mouth, which can damage tooth enamel. To restore the acid-base balance, you can select individual hygiene products with the optimal composition together with your doctor.

• Professional oral hygiene.

It is recommended to visit a hygienist for professional teeth cleaning at least three times during pregnancy.

• Applications to restore the mineral composition of tooth enamel.

Remineralization of enamel using solutions of calcium gluconate, calcium phosphate gels, and fluoride-containing preparations helps strengthen the enamel and stop the development of caries at an early stage. By following these simple preventive measures, you can maintain dental health in pregnant women, prevent caries, gingivitis and a number of other dental diseases.

How does pregnant caries affect the fetus?

On one side of the scale is the risk of complications from dental intervention, on the other is the possibility of harm to the fetus.

The human oral cavity functions through active contact with the external environment. There are always microcracks and abrasions on the mucous membrane and gums. Due to the bactericidal properties of saliva, they do not pose a danger.

• Protein in urine during pregnancy

Important ! During pregnancy, the intensity of immune defense changes, pathogenic pathogens enter the blood and cause inflammation, including caries.

When considering the danger from carious lesions, it is necessary to distinguish:

• the impact of caries directly on the fetus;
• the impact of caries complications on a woman’s health and the course of pregnancy.

Caries can negatively affect the fetus

Medical specialists assess the risk of penetration of caries pathogens through the placenta as minimal. However, the waste products of bacteria that cause caries affect the tone of the uterus and contribute to the destruction of the membranes of the fertilized egg. This in turn can lead to spontaneous abortion in the early stages and a decrease in fetal weight.

Important ! The most dangerous complications of caries are the spread of inflammation and the involvement of adjacent healthy tissues in the process.

Local symptoms of inflammation (pain when pressing on a tooth, swelling and redness of the gums, inability to chew) in combination with general symptoms (fever, weakness, chills, fluid imbalance, depression) significantly worsen the condition of the pregnant woman and require serious procedures.

Inflammation may begin to spread, leading to harmful consequences.

There is a need to sanitize the purulent process, use anesthetics, and antibacterial drugs. The process of eating becomes difficult and the daily routine is disrupted. The course of toxicosis may worsen. Pain syndrome can cause a cascade of reactions: vegetative (increased blood pressure, tachycardia, tachypnea), metabolic (activation of metabolic processes).

The degree of influence of caries on a woman and fetus depends on the form of the disease.