Pregnancy is nothing short of a miraculous time, but it can bring many challenges for the mom-to-be. They experience physical, emotional, and mental changes. Moreover, a baby growing inside you also comes with some side effects like morning sickness, hormonal changes, and more. But did you know pregnancy can come with dental problems and changes as well? Yes, many women experience unbearable tooth pain while pregnant. We will discuss what causes it and what to do about this condition.
Why Do I Have Unbearable Tooth Pain While Being Pregnant?
Many changes occur during pregnancy, so it might be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of your toothache. Some common explanations of why your teeth hurt during pregnancy are:
1. Plaque Build-Up
Oral issues can arise due to the changes that occur during pregnancy. Therefore, your body might change its natural response while reacting to plaque. Consequently, it does not fight off plaque in the usual manner. This allows plaque to accumulate on your teeth and gums. Gradually, plaque build-up results in tooth decay, cavities, and other oral health issues. Simply put, plaque might be why you have unbearable tooth pain while you’re pregnant.
2. Morning Sickness
You might not believe it, but morning sickness can also be the culprit behind your pregnancy toothache. Vomiting due to morning sickness exposes your teeth to stomach acids, burning and damaging your teeth. Moreover, corrosive stomach acids can destroy your tooth enamel. As a result, problems like swollen gums and tooth decay occur as your teeth come in contact with bacteria.
3. Gum Disease
Pregnancy gingivitis is also pretty common. Along with tooth decay, many pregnant women experience gum disease. Gradually, gingivitis can progress into periodontal disease and needs immediate dental attention. Therefore, unbearable tooth pain while pregnant might result from pregnancy gingivitis.
How to Treat Tooth Pain When Pregnant?
Dental or oral health issues call for an immediate visit to the dentist, especially if you’re pregnant. Your dentist can check if any detrimental cause is the reason for your unbearable tooth pain while you’re pregnant. If there is a problem, they’ll treat it accordingly, keeping your condition in mind.
Oral hygiene is also something we should prioritize, pregnant or not. Staying on top of your oral hygiene routines, like regular brushing, flossing, and mouthwash rinses can prevent plaque. Plus, it keeps bacteria to a minimum. Also, hot and cold or extreme temperatures might trigger sensitivity in your teeth while you’re with a child. So avoiding any drinks or food in extreme temperatures can help keep the unbearable toothache away.
How to Prevent Unbearable Tooth Pain While Pregnant?
To prevent the unbearable tooth pain altogether, pregnant women can try these:
- Practicing oral hygiene religiously and more frequently
- Rinse your mouth with water after brushing
- Clean your teeth and drink water after vomiting to remove any excess stomach acid that can damage your teeth
- Refrain from consuming too many sugary foods and drinks or carbohydrates
- Maintain a well-balanced diet
What Should I Do?
Unbearable tooth pain is another complication that comes while pregnant. Visit your oral healthcare provider to identify the cause and ensure it’s not severe. Our Gessner Smile Dentistry team can help; dial (713) 858-8513 to contact us today.