Lose a tooth when giving birth? These four periods of women's life should not be ignored

Oral disease is one of the most common diseases in human beings, and it has never stopped eroding women's health. Due to their physiological characteristics, some dental diseases are more likely to affect women.

Xiao Li (pseudonym) is 4 months pregnant. When she was more than 2 months pregnant, she found that the place where her wisdom teeth grew would hurt when she ate. At first, she thought it was due to inflammation and she could bear it. Unexpectedly, the toothache became more and more severe. The gums were red and swollen, and her speech was affected. The pain was unbearable. She hurried to see a doctor. At the same time, she was worried about whether the treatment would affect the fetus, and she was very anxious.

At the Department of Stomatology of Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Hospital, the doctor told Xiao Li after examination that her toothache was caused by pericoronitis of wisdom teeth. In this case, the doctor can use hydrogen peroxide to rinse the local pericoronal area and choose antibiotics that can be used by pregnant women to reduce inflammation, which will not cause harm to the pregnant woman and fetus.

Du Jinying, deputy chief physician of the department, pointed out that some pregnant women have to "endure" toothache, but in fact, there is no need to do so. Of course, you can see a dentist during pregnancy. Pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication to seeing a dentist. For pregnant women who are not well prepared before pregnancy and already have dental diseases during pregnancy, some necessary measures can be taken. The second trimester is a relatively safe period. If the pregnant woman does not have serious systemic diseases, general dental treatment can be done. If a pregnant woman has dental problems during the first 3 months and the last 3 months of pregnancy, emergency treatment can be performed if necessary to relieve symptoms and minimize the risk to the expectant mother. During the consultation and treatment process, the doctor will also make different choices from ordinary people in terms of X-rays and drug selection such as anesthetics and antibiotics.

Du Jinying reminds that women will experience multiple physiological changes in their lives, including puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Each stage has its own characteristics, so special attention should be paid to the following oral problems:

puberty

The activity of the gonadal function of young women entering puberty begins to become active and has regular periodic fluctuations. The level of sex hormones in women's blood also undergoes periodic changes, which may lead to oral health problems such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. It is recommended that adolescent women use fluoride toothpaste, dental floss, and brush their teeth carefully to avoid gum problems caused by excess estrogen.

Menstrual period

During menstruation, women's blood coagulation ability decreases, so surgical treatments such as tooth extraction or other bleeding should be avoided as much as possible to prevent compensatory bleeding. In addition, women's pain nerves are more sensitive during menstruation, and their overall resistance is relatively poor, so dental treatment during menstruation is often painful and prone to infection. The coagulation mechanism decreases during menstruation, and oral ulcers are also more likely to occur. During menstruation, a light diet can be used to transition.

Pregnancy

People often say "giving birth to a baby means losing a tooth". Although this statement is a bit exaggerated, it is proven that pregnancy does have a great impact on women's teeth. During pregnancy, the estrogen and progesterone levels in women increase, and their eating habits and oral hygiene behaviors change to varying degrees. This significantly increases the risk of pregnant women suffering from oral diseases such as gingivitis, caries, and pericoronitis of wisdom teeth. In severe cases, it can also lead to fetal malformations, even miscarriage and premature birth. Therefore, in order to avoid being troubled by oral diseases during pregnancy and to ensure the safety of expectant mothers and fetuses, women should go to regular dental clinics for a comprehensive oral examination and complete corresponding oral treatment during the pregnancy preparation period. If a pregnant woman suffers from an oral disease, she should also seek medical attention in a timely manner and follow the doctor's advice to complete relevant examinations and treatments.

menopause

As estrogen begins to decrease, symptoms such as dry mouth will appear, saliva secretion decreases, the oral cavity's self-cleaning ability decreases, and the rate of caries will be higher. It is also recommended that menopausal women pay attention to the maintenance of oral hygiene, eat a balanced diet, and drink plenty of water.

Correspondent/Shi Yue, Reporter/Yang Yu