Toothache during pregnancy is common. During this period, changes in the hormonal background of metabolism occur, and the woman’s body becomes very vulnerable. Pregnancy often serves as a catalyst for oral problems. Teeth begin to react to cold and hot. Painful sensations occur during hygienic cleaning, and gums may bleed. The acidity of saliva increases, the dentition is exposed to increased bacterial load.
There are more than enough reasons for toothache. Even with regular oral care and visits to the dentist, almost half of women during pregnancy experience caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, stomatitis and other inflammatory dental pathologies. If your tooth hurts during pregnancy, you should immediately go to the dentist.
Toothache cannot be tolerated, especially during pregnancy. Painful attacks negatively affect the functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems and can provoke involuntary contractions of the uterus and even premature birth. The opinion that it is undesirable to treat teeth during this period is a dangerous misconception. Even initial caries during pregnancy progresses much faster. Modern dentistry offers many effective means and treatment methods that are safe for the expectant mother and baby. The doctor selects treatment individually, according to the clinical picture and stage of pregnancy.
What symptoms should you consult a doctor for?
Any acute inflammatory diseases of teeth and gums are subject to urgent treatment. Even the smallest carious cavity is a source of infection, potentially dangerous for the developing fetus. If a carious tooth is not treated in a timely manner, pulpitis and periodontitis may develop, accompanied by severe pain and other symptoms.
You should immediately go to the dentist if the following symptoms appear:
- tooth reaction to cold, hot, sweet;
- pain (sharp, aching, throbbing);
- bleeding gums;
- pain when biting, chewing;
- redness, swelling of the gums;
- bad breath;
- purulent discharge
Urgent help
necessary for injuries - fracture of the tooth root, chips, cracks of the coronal part, damage to the pulp.
In the normal course of pregnancy, in the absence of risk factors for the mother and fetus, treatment of emergency or potentially dangerous conditions is carried out at any stage (in any trimester). The main contraindication to treatment is the threat of miscarriage. Each trimester has its own characteristics that determine the choice of treatment method.
Treatment of toothache during pregnancy
Toothache is a symptom of an underlying disease that causes a lot of anxiety to the patient. Eliminating it is not a solution to the problem, so an integrated approach to the treatment of the underlying disease is required, as a rule: caries, stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, periodontal disease or other dental pathology.
The basis for effective treatment of toothache is correct diagnosis, which can only be carried out by a specialized doctor in an inpatient dental clinic. Doctors use various diagnostic methods to assess the condition of the dental tissues and oral cavity not only visually, but also structurally.
Many young mothers believe that treatment of dental problems during pregnancy is contraindicated - this is a misconception. During pregnancy, there are a large number of restrictions, including on taking medications and performing manipulations. But the consequences of dental diseases can cause serious problems, including the spread of infection, so a decision on the need for certain procedures must be made by the attending physician, who evaluates all risk factors.
How to relieve pain yourself
Rinsing with a soda solution (1 teaspoon of soda per glass of warm water) will help temporarily relieve toothache during pregnancy. You need to rinse your mouth more often, every 2 hours. In addition to soda, you can use Furacilin solution, decoctions of medicinal herbs - chamomile, oak bark, yarrow.
Not recommended
use herbs containing essential oils (sage, eucalyptus, peppermint, cloves, etc.), they can cause severe uterine cramps.
Severe dental pain during pregnancy can be treated with a suitable anesthetic. Steroid-based drugs and drugs that penetrate the placental barrier are contraindicated.
How to relieve toothache in pregnant women
If a toothache occurs, a pregnant woman should immediately contact her dentist to find out the causes and take timely treatment measures. But it happens that pain appears at night, during a trip, or under other circumstances when it is not possible to visit a doctor. In this case, the woman should call her dentist, make an appointment and explain her condition. Your doctor will recommend what you can do to relieve your pain before visiting the clinic.
To relieve toothache, a pregnant woman can do the following:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to remove any remaining food. You need to brush your teeth using a toothbrush and floss (dental floss). If the pain is caused by food getting into the cavity, this may be enough to provide relief.
- Periodically rinse your mouth with warm infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants: calendula, sage, chamomile, eucalyptus. You can also use a saline solution for this purpose (a teaspoon of table salt is dissolved in a glass of warm boiled water). Rinsing does not anesthetize, but has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect, which may reduce pain.
- Take a paracetamol tablet. Panadol, Efferalgan, Paralen, Rapidol are the trade names of paracetamol. It is approved for use at any stage of pregnancy, but the dosage specified in the instructions must not be exceeded. Paracetamol is effective for headaches, moderate dental and joint pain; in acute conditions, it will only reduce the severity of pain.
- Take an ibuprofen tablet (trade names: Nurofen, Ibuprom, MIG 400, Ivalgin Rapid, Imet). The use of the drug is permitted in the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy, that is, until the 26th week, and is prohibited in the 3rd trimester. Ibuprofen should be taken with caution and only in critical situations, strictly following the dosage regimen.
- Apply Dentol 10% gel to the gums and into the cavity of the diseased tooth. The drug contains the anesthetic benzocaine, its effect after application to the diseased tooth begins within a minute. Dentol can be applied up to 4 times a day.
- During sleep or rest, take a “reclining” position so that the head is elevated: the pain is slightly reduced, as the blood flow to the periodontal tissues decreases.
Prohibited:
- Take combination medications containing ibuprofen or paracetamol. In addition to these substances, combination medications may contain components that are dangerous to the fetus.
- Warm the diseased tooth, as this threatens the spread of purulent inflammation (if any) to the tissues adjacent to the tooth.
- Take any other medications without permission from your dentist or obstetrician-gynecologist. Many drugs have a teratogenic effect - the ability to disrupt the embryonic development of a child.
What painkillers can pregnant women use for toothache?
The most suitable painkillers approved by WHO are Paracetamol, No-shpa
(or its analogue
Drotaverine
).
Children's gels will help reduce pain - Kamistad
,
Kalgel, Dentol-baby
. These are specialized products designed to reduce pain during teething. They pleasantly cool the gums and relieve inflammation.
You must understand that taking medication is a last resort before seeing a doctor. Tablets will temporarily relieve pain, but will not get rid of the underlying problem. Pregnancy is not a disease, but a special physiological state, so treating teeth during pregnancy is not only possible, but necessary.
How to save teeth during pregnancy
First of all, even if the teeth were in perfect order before pregnancy, the expectant mother should remember about prevention:
- brush your teeth not for twenty seconds, but for three minutes, thoroughly and regularly;
- use dental floss, preferably after every meal;
- use suitable gentle toothpastes, avoid whitening pastes;
- change your toothbrush once a month;
- try not to eat food that injures the gums and mucous membranes.
The second important point: take vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins D3 and K. It is most convenient to choose a vitamin and mineral complex for pregnant women, which will also contain other micronutrients necessary for the proper formation and development of the fetus.
In addition, some complexes for expectant mothers help reduce the symptoms of toxicosis (nausea and vomiting, which affect the acid-base balance in the oral cavity), especially if they contain vitamin B6. For example, the Pregnoton Mama vitamin and mineral complex (designed so that it can be taken by women before, during and after pregnancy) contains vitamins B6, D3 and K, as well as other vitamins and minerals necessary for the body of a pregnant woman in precisely calculated doses . The fetus will not take them from the mother’s body, and toxicosis will minimally affect the acid-base balance, without provoking the development of caries, periodontitis and gingivitis.
As for calcium intake, as a rule, calcium is included in vitamin-mineral complexes for expectant mothers purely nominally, that is, in too small dosages. Therefore, discuss with your doctor whether you should take calcium supplements separately, or whether you need enough calcium in your diet.
Unfortunately, often expectant mothers do not think about prevention and “remember” their teeth when they have already become a source of trouble. So what to do if your teeth hurt, are loose, and your gums are red, painful or itchy?
When is the best time for pregnant women to have their teeth treated?
If a woman took a responsible approach to pregnancy and had her teeth treated in advance, she still needs to visit the dentist regularly for preventive examinations. This will allow you to detect pathology at an early stage and use the safest treatment methods. When performing any dental procedure, not only the woman’s well-being matters, but also the duration of pregnancy. Each trimester has its own characteristics and risks that determine the choice of treatment method.
First trimester
1st trimester
– period
from 1 to 12 weeks
inclusive. At this time, the formation of organs and structures of the embryo occurs. The placenta does not yet protect the fetus well enough from external influences, and the woman’s body undergoes serious changes: hormonal, physiological, metabolic. Any interventions, including medications, can negatively affect the pregnancy process and the health of the baby.
If a pregnant woman has a toothache in the 1st trimester, treatment is carried out mainly using gentle methods
(ICON, ozone therapy, air abrasive method). For pulpitis, periodontitis, accompanied by acute pain and purulent discharge, local anesthesia based on articaine (Ultracaine, Melivastesin, Mepifrine, Skadonest) is used.
Second trimester
2nd trimester
– period
from 13 to 24 weeks
.
This is the safest time
for dental treatment, gum treatment, professional hygiene and other dental interventions. The tissues, organs, and systems of the fetus have already been formed; the placenta reliably protects the baby from external factors. All planned procedures are recommended to be performed during this period.
Third trimester
3rd trimester
– the period
from 25 weeks to childbirth
, quite difficult for a pregnant woman.
The stress on the body increases, the placenta becomes more susceptible to external factors. Treatment is carried out exclusively for acute conditions
that are dangerous for the mother and child. Planned procedures are postponed until the baby is born.
If there is a need for dental treatment in a pregnant woman, a new generation of anesthetics based on articaine is used. The components of these drugs do not penetrate the placental barrier, do not affect the uterine and placental blood flow, do not increase the tone of the uterus, and are safe for the expectant mother and child. An alternative to local anesthesia is treatment under sedation (during sleep).
Why do teeth hurt during pregnancy?
Very often, the cause of toothache lies in the exacerbation of existing diseases - caries, periodontitis, gingivitis, pulpitis. A cutting wisdom tooth or tartar can also cause pain.
However, sometimes toothache is directly related to pregnancy.
There is such a thing as gingivitis in pregnant women - rapidly developing gum disease against the background of toxicosis and changes in hormonal balance, in which inflammation occurs more intensely than usual.
Another reason why pregnant women’s teeth literally begin to “crumble” is the formation of bones in the fetus and their active growth. If there is a deficiency of calcium, vitamins D3 and K in the body of a pregnant woman, the fetus has nothing to “build” a skeleton from, so it begins to “pull” the substances it needs from the mother’s body. And the depots of calcium and phosphorus are teeth and bones. Therefore, if the expectant mother’s diet does not have enough calcium, then the teeth will begin to decay very quickly.
Many pregnant women do not associate their toothache with calcium deficiency, since the expectant mother receives quite a lot of calcium - it is also found in milk, cheese, other dairy products, fish and even in some plants, for example, chia seeds. But in order for calcium to be absorbed, the body must have vitamins D3 and K, but a pregnant woman’s diet may not have enough of them, unless she takes specialized vitamin-mineral complexes. The fact is that the main sources of these vitamins are not very popular products. Thus, a person can get vitamin D3 from animal fats (fish oil, margarine), and their consumption during pregnancy is reduced so as not to gain excess weight. The main sources of vitamin K are spinach, cauliflower and nettle leaves, and its content in other vegetables and fruits is low. But vitamins D3 and K are consumed in huge quantities during pregnancy.
Also, early toxicosis of pregnant women greatly affects dental health: frequent vomiting oxidizes the environment of the oral cavity, provoking the development of diseases that already exist, but previously did not bother the woman, and pass without any special external manifestations. Nausea forces pregnant women to carefully choose food, often not paying attention to its nutritional value, only to the absence of irritating smells and tastes. Thus, the body may not receive vitamins, the lack of which provokes even more severe attacks of toxicosis.
But the reasons listed above do not mean at all that toothache is an obligatory companion for the expectant mother. Let's see what can be done to prevent toothache during pregnancy.
Is it possible to do x-rays?
Contrary to popular belief, X-rays can be taken during pregnancy. For this purpose, computer radiovisiographs are used. The radiation dose received by the patient when using a visiograph is minimal. If possible, the study should be carried out in the 2nd trimester
, excluding cases where urgent help is required - severe, acute pain in the teeth during pregnancy. X-ray examination is carried out observing all possible means of protecting the fetus.
“Fighting” radiation on the visiograph, women calmly fly south to eat fruit and bask in the sun. Not knowing that during a 2-3 hour flight a person receives 20-30 μSv. This is a radiation dose equivalent to 10-15 images on a visiograph. Ionizing radiation differs from light rays only in wavelength and has a damaging effect only under certain conditions.
Prevention of toothache during pregnancy
The best way to prevent the disease is high-quality prevention. Toothaches during pregnancy are no exception. To minimize the risk of their occurrence, you must follow a few simple rules:
- Ensure proper oral hygiene (brush your teeth 2 times a day, morning and evening);
- Timely treatment of caries - treatment of the initial stages of caries without the use of anesthesia, causes minimal discomfort to the patient and prevents the development of the problem;
- Follow a proper diet - your diet should include fermented milk products, as well as foods high in calcium;
- Taking vitamin complexes is recommended by a doctor.
Do you have any questions or need help from a specialist? Contact the managers of the AlfaDent dental clinic and feel the care of professionals!
Treatment of caries during pregnancy at Dentistry on Shchelkovskaya
Finally, we will tell you what the main feature of visiting a dentist during pregnancy in our clinic is. The fact is that a pregnant woman is often subject to changes in her emotional state, so our dentists show sensitivity and attention to the patient’s condition, protecting her from any kind of physical pain and emotional stress. The dentists of the clinic on Shchelkovskaya perfectly understand the specific health and emotional background of a pregnant woman, so they do everything in their power to make your visit to the doctor calm and pleasant.
The most important thing that you should not do during pregnancy is to ignore toothache and allow the development of oral diseases. Remember that your baby’s health depends on your vigilance. Therefore, even if you feel slightly unwell, or have periodic aching pains, do not tolerate it, make an appointment with a dentist now! Treatment of caries during pregnancy at any stage of development is possible in our clinic. We work seven days a week, located in the Eastern Administrative District in the Izmailovo district at Shchelkovskoye Highway, building 44, building 5. Near us are Golyanovo, Pervomaiskaya, Partizanskaya, Cherkizovskaya.
Principles of treatment depending on trimester
Each period of pregnancy has its own characteristics. Therefore, the trimester must be taken into account before starting treatment:
- First. The period is unfavorable for treatment. The fetus is not protected, and its important organs are actively developing. Even approved medications can have a bad effect on a small body, so in the first trimester it is advisable to use only safe products suitable for topical use.
- Second. The period is suitable for dental treatment in hospital and the use of painkillers. The placenta will protect the fetus from substances in the drugs.
- Third. Visiting the dentist is not recommended, as anxiety can trigger premature labor. You can take painkillers.
The second period of pregnancy is suitable for dental treatment in hospital and the use of painkillers
Attention! If you have severe toxicosis, you should avoid visiting the dentist's office.
