Advice from oral health experts throughout the life cycle | Don’t get pregnant with oral diseases

Author: Lu Youguang, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Fujian Medical University

In anticipation of welcoming a new life, expectant mothers often overlook an important health link - oral health. In fact, oral health is not only related to the comfort and health of pregnant women, but also closely related to the growth and development of the baby. Let's talk about the importance of pre-pregnancy oral examinations and the specific contents of the examination.

1. The importance of oral health examination before pregnancy

Due to changes in hormone levels in pregnant women and changes in eating habits after pregnancy, pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing oral diseases than ordinary people. Pre-pregnancy oral health examination is an important part of the pregnancy preparation process that cannot be ignored. It has a profound impact on the health of both mother and baby, which is manifested in the following aspects:

1. Prevent oral diseases during pregnancy

During pregnancy, estrogen levels rise, and expectant mothers are more likely to have problems such as bleeding or swollen gums. Vomiting, frequent meals, and reduced oral hygiene during pregnancy also make pregnant women more susceptible to dental caries. Pre-pregnancy oral examinations can detect and treat oral diseases or hidden dangers early, reducing the occurrence of oral diseases during pregnancy.

2. Meet nutritional intake

During pregnancy, expectant mothers need to take in enough nutrition to support the growth and development of their babies. If oral diseases are not treated in time, they may cause severe pain and infection, affect the nutritional intake of expectant mothers, and have adverse effects on the growth and development of their babies.

3. Reduce the risk of treatment during pregnancy

Oral treatment may cause tension, pain and infection in patients, and have a potential negative impact on fetal growth and development. Therefore, complex oral operations such as tooth extraction and root canal treatment should be performed with caution in the early and late stages of pregnancy. At the same time, due to concerns about the impact of X-ray examinations and medication on fetal health, many pregnant women may postpone or refuse treatment, thus experiencing additional physical and psychological pressure.

4. Reduce the risk of adverse outcomes

Studies have shown that periodontal disease may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight babies. Treating periodontal disease before pregnancy can help reduce these risks and provide protection for the healthy development of the fetus.

2. Contents of pre-pregnancy oral health examination

1. Check for caries, pulpitis, apical periodontitis, tooth defects or missing teeth

Fill caries in time, and perform root canal treatment on teeth with dead pulp or teeth that have already developed pulpitis or even periapical inflammation; remove residual roots and crowns that cannot be retained; properly handle tooth cracks, wedge-shaped defects and other tooth defects, repair missing teeth as soon as possible, and restore chewing function.

2. Check for soft plaque, plaque, pigment and tartar

Through professional ultrasonic cleaning, plaque and tartar on the tooth surface can be removed; for women with periodontitis who are preparing for pregnancy, systematic periodontal treatment should be carried out as early as possible.

3. Check for misplaced wisdom teeth

If the wisdom tooth has already developed caries or caused caries of adjacent teeth, periodontal destruction, food impaction, etc., and X-rays show that it is incorrectly positioned, cannot erupt normally, or excessive elongation causes soft tissue trauma, etc., it should be removed before pregnancy to prevent the occurrence of pericoronitis of the wisdom tooth.

Pre-pregnancy oral health examinations and necessary oral treatments not only help to maintain the health of expectant mothers, but are also an important part of eugenics and good parenting, laying a good foundation for the healthy development of the baby. It is recommended that women should undergo a comprehensive oral examination before pregnancy to detect oral problems as early as possible, treat caries in a timely manner, remove malpositioned wisdom teeth, perform a cleaning or necessary periodontal system treatment, and welcome the arrival of a new life with peace of mind.

(Contributed by the Popular Science Department of the Chinese Stomatological Association and the Oral Preventive Medicine Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association)