How To Relieve Tooth Pain When Pregnant
Physical changes during pregnancy can increase the risk of dental problems — and pain — due to infections, tooth decay, sensitive teeth or red, swollen gums 5.Getting this pain evaluated and treated can pose some challenges during pregnancy, since x-ray exposure should be minimized, and certain medications need to be avoided during pregnancy. However, there are some steps you can take to manage dental pain that develops when you are pregnant.
How To Treat Gum Disease Naturally During Pregnancy
The good news is gum disease can be identified and treated early by consistently exercising a couple of at-home grooming habits or oral care practices.
- Brushing and Flossing Theres a reason the dentist always encourages us to brush and floss daily. Good brushing and flossing habits can rid the gums and mouth of bacteria, reducing or reversing the inflammation of gingivitis.
- Vitamin C If you want help battling the bacteria thats building up in your mouth, try eating more fruits. Vitamin C can help combat gingivitis.
- Vitamin A Another vitamin to add to your toolbox to fight gum disease is Vitamin A, which is essential in helping bones and teeth grow. Pay attention to the upper limits of Vitamin A.
- Sea Salt Gargling with sea salt might help reduce the inflammation of gingivitis as you work to heal your gums.
What Are The Causes Of Tooth Pain In Pregnancy
Following are some of the causes that may cause tooth pain during pregnancy:
- Morning sickness may be one of the reasons for dental issues during pregnancy. When the stomach acid comes into your mouth, it may lead to dental cavities and toothaches during pregnancy.
- The hormonal disturbances in the body during pregnancy may make you more prone to gingivitis, which in turn may lead to various tooth and gum troubles.
- Your diet undergoes various changes during pregnancy. If you consume sugary products in excess quantities, then it may increase your chances of dental problems.
- When you become pregnant, your bodys calcium requirement increases as it needs to facilitate the calcium requirements of a growing foetus. However, if you do not consume adequate amounts of calcium during pregnancy, it may lead to demineralisation on your tooth enamel, causing toothaches and pains.
- Pregnancy may make your gums and teeth sensitive, and this may lead to improper brushing or make you brush less frequently, which in turn may lead to dental problems.
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Timing Your Root Canal
Although root canal treatment poses little risk to your developing baby, some points in pregnancy are more ideal for treatment than others. If possible, try to schedule your root canal for the second trimester. The first trimester is considered the riskiest in general, and by your third trimester you may be quite uncomfortable laying back in the dental chair.
How To Prevent Teeth Pain During Pregnancy
With everything youll go through during pregnancy, physically speaking, youll want to minimize the likelihood of tooth pain. This starts with excellent oral hygiene habits, which are important due to the risk of developing dental problems. Heres what you can do:
- Dont skimp on dental care. Youll be more tired and achy, so it might be easy to go to bed without brushing your teeth dont. Stick to a good routine. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day. Also, use a fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash to prevent cavities and strengthen your teeth.
- Drink water or rinse out your mouth after vomiting, if you have morning sickness. This helps remove stomach acid from teeth. Dont immediately brush your teeth, though. This might seem odd, but the acidity level in your mouth increases after vomiting. Brushing can do more harm than good, so wait at least an hour after vomiting before brushing your teeth.
- Tell your dentist that youre pregnant and see if you need more frequent cleanings. Also, speak with your health insurance provider. Some plans cover extra dental cleanings during pregnancy.
- Limit sugary foods and carbohydrates. Snack on healthy foods like raw vegetables, whole-wheat crackers, and fruit.
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If You Need A Root Canal During Pregnancy
If you have any other questions about root canal treatment and pregnancy, dont hesitate to reach out to your dentist or endodontist. At Ballantyne Endodontics, we understand that pregnancy can be a stressful time. If you find yourself pregnant and in need of root canal therapy, you can be assured that we will keep you as comfortable and safe as possible.
We have been privileged to help Charlotte-area residents keep their natural teeth while living with less pain. If you are in the area and need a root canal, please contact Ballantyne Endodontics or ask your dentist for a referral.
Can You Have Root Canal Treatment When Youre Pregnant
Team News Update
In a perfect world, you would have time to have a dental checkup, and to have any dental issues treated, before you become pregnant. However, we live in the real world. The reality is that pregnancy itself can cause dental problems, and many women do not realize they need a root canal until they are already pregnant. Fortunately, root canal treatment is generally considered safe during pregnancy. Of course, every woman is unique, as is every pregnancy, so it is important to check with your doctor and dentist for guidance.
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Should You Treat Toothache During Pregnancy
Most pregnant women are worried about having their teeth treated during pregnancy. However, doctors and dentists still recommend having any dental problems treated during pregnancy, with some precautions using x-rays and taking medication for toothache pain relief.
- X-Rays During Pregnancy
Many women are concerned about getting any kind of x-ray during pregnancyeven dental x-rays. If you have a toothache during pregnancy, the dentist will try to take care of the problem without doing x-rays if this is possible. If it is necessary to do x-rays to take care of the problem, the dentist will ask you to wear a lead apron and a lead covering over your thyroid gland so that the x-rays do not get to these areas. The x-rays can then be safely done and the dentist will have more information available to help treat your dental problem.
- Medications During Pregnancy
There are a variety of medications available for toothache pain, some of which are not appropriate to be used in pregnancy. For example, research has indicated that taking Percocet or oxycodone during pregnancy can result in unwanted birth defects. Because of issues like this, it is important to tell the dentist that you are pregnant so that safe medications in pregnancy, such as acetaminophen can be used instead. Antibiotics may also be required. Some antibiotics, like penicillin, are safe to take in pregnancy and will be prescribed for you for the management of infections that need antibiotics during pregnancy.
Can We Do Everything And At Any Time
It depends on your pregnancy stage and the kind of intervention you will need to have.
During the first trimester of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage is higher. It is better to do only emergency procedures: treat a cavity, an infection, In short, act only to reduce stress, pain, and control potential infectious risks.
Between the 3rd and 6th month, there are many things you can do, including treatment to control infectious or painful pathologies that are progressing or likely to progress. Then you need to do an assessment to see if it is better to wait until after delivery for more complex interventions.
At the end of pregnancy, as in the beginning, only emergency treatments that provide relief are performed. Women feel discomfort due to weight gain, their movements are limited, and the risk of childbirth increases as the term approaches.
The second trimester is therefore considered the safest and most recommended time to receive dental treatment.
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Is Endodontic Treatment Safe While Pregnant
In order to treat pregnancy tooth infection as well as the conventional one, the dentist has to perform the endodontic therapy .
The root canal procedure by itself is nothing to worry about.
The clinician will create a small opening in the natural crown to get access to the dental canal.
Using different endodontic files, the dentist will remove the infected tissue that causes the dental infection. the cleaned and disinfected canal will be sealed. A prosthetic crown will replace your natural one if necessary.
In case of pregnancy: there are three elements to take into account
- First, the local anesthesia used by the dentist to numb the area to be treated
- second, antibiotics that may be prescribed to fight the bacteria infection
- third, the mom discomfort on the dentist chair during the procedure.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis For Dental Work
Your dentist may prescribe preventative antibiotics for certain dental services or before the treatment of your dental infection this is called antibiotic prophylaxis.
During certain dental treatments, the bacteria that reside in your mouth may enter the bloodstream, and prophylactic antibiotics can prevent infection.
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Anesthesia And Pain Medicine During Pregnancy
The next common question expectant mothers ask regarding root canal treatment and pregnancy is about the safety of anesthesia and pain medication.
Thankfully, the American Dental Association says that local anesthesia does not pose a risk to a developing fetus. They recommend local anesthetics with epinephrine such as Bupivacaine, Lidocaine, and Mepivacaine.
The American Pregnancy Association recommends using as little anesthesia as possible, but still using enough to provide a comfortable level of pain relief.
Also, dental procedures like a root canal may require the use of antibiotics to prevent or treat an active infection. If that applies to your case, your dental professional will follow the current standard regarding which specific antibiotics are appropriate and their correct dosage. Most antibiotics like Amoxicillin are perfectly fine to use during pregnancy, but be sure to carefully follow each instruction to a T and reach out to the provider if any questions arise.
In more severe instances, patients may prefer to utilize pain management for a few days after their root canal therapy. While pregnant, ibuprofen and Advil must be avoided. You will want to stick with acetaminophen based medications like Tylenol. Be sure to discuss this with your dental professional since the correct dosage and medication vary depending on how far along you are, as well as individual concerns.
Timing Your Root Canal During Pregnancy
Once you have been referred by a general dentist or are becoming symptomatic, go ahead and schedule your examination and consultation. Depending on your individual circumstance, your endodontist may discuss the timing of your procedure.
You may feel assured to know that, according to the Mayo Clinic, a root canal, or most dental treatments, may happen at any time during pregnancy. However, they recommend scheduling elective dental procedures for the second trimester, specifically, weeks 14 through 20, if possible.
This is because there is so much rapid development happening during the first trimester. It is safer to wait for treatment, if you are able, until passing that milestone. During the third trimester, you may feel less comfortable laying back in a dental chair or anywhere!
However, if you are suffering from pain and facial swelling, you may need immediate care regardless of the trimester. The risk of an untreated infection outweighs the minimal risks associated with root canal therapy.
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Dental Care In Pregnancy
Dental care is extremely important during pregnancy. Pregnant women have elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones cause the gums to be more sensitive to the bacteria that is found in plaque and can lead to a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis. Some of the symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen, and bleeding gums. To avoid the buildup of plaque, it is important to brush teeth at least twice a day and floss before going to bed.
Research suggests that gingivitis in pregnancy has been linked with an increased risk of pre-term and low birth weight babies. It is estimated that women with periodontal disease are seven times more likely to experience premature delivery.
It is recommended that women continue with their regular dental cleaning and check-ups to avoid oral infections that can affect the fetus, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. Major dental treatments that are not considered urgent should be postponed until after the child is born. Procedures that are deemed urgent by your dentist should be performed during the second trimester to minimize any potential risks to the fetus. The second trimester is safer than the first since most of the babys organs are formed by this time.
X-rays: In general, X-rays are best avoided in pregnancy. However, circumstances do occur where a dental X-ray is necessary. If a patient needs a dental X-ray, she will need an abdominal shield placed.
Can Pregnancy Cause Toothache
If you are wondering if your pregnancy may cause any kind of dental problems, the answer to this question is yes, pregnancy may lead to teeth and gum problems. Dental problems during pregnancy may arise due to hormonal imbalance, calcium requirements of your baby, and other such factors. However, if you are consuming calcium in adequate amounts, maintaining dental hygiene and paying your dentist a regular visit, you are less likely to experience any kind of dental issues during pregnancy.
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What Are The Causes Of Tooth Decay During Pregnancy
According to the ADA, one-fourth of all women in the reproductive age range have dental decay .
Pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing dental decay due to an increase in the acidic environment of the oral cavity, excess consumption of sugary foods, neglecting oral health, and some other reasons mentioned next .
Most of these causes are not persistent after delivery. You can consult a dentist if you are pregnant and plan for prevention or treatment of decay accordingly.
Benefits Of Taking Amoxicillin For A Tooth Infection
All antibiotics work by stopping the growth of bacteria that cause an infection, which can also alleviate your pain.
Amoxicillin, a type of antibiotic known as a penicillin class antibiotic, is one of the most common antibiotics prescribed by doctors for that reason, its considered a front-line antibiotic.
Other front-line antibiotics include penicillin, cephalexin, clindamycin, and azithromycin.
Along with treating pneumonia, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and ear infections, amoxicillin also works well for tooth infections.
While a mild abscessed tooth may resolve on its own, dentists often prescribe amoxicillin if theyre concerned the infection could spread, or when a patient has a weakened immune system.
There are many types of antibiotics that work for tooth infection, but amoxicillin is one of the most common because of how effective it is against the type of bacteria involved.
Compared to other antibiotics, amoxicillin also generally causes fewer major side effects, making it a great first option for treating an abscessed tooth.
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Is It Safe To Go For A Tooth Extraction
Extracting a problematic tooth is always a safe option, especially in the case of cavities. Because sometimes, decay can spread over the adjacent tooth due to angulation.
In addition, there is a good chance that food particles will clog between gum and tooth. But the situation is so different because your babys health is much more important right now.
Doctors recommend waiting until the 3rd month to start because 3 to 6 months is the safest time to have a dental procedure. If an x-ray is taken, make sure you are protected by a lead apron during exposure.
If there is no emergency, then it is a good idea to wait until you have delivered. But make sure you maintain excellent oral hygiene to prevent food from becoming clogged, as mentioned above.
Dental Treatments To Avoid In Pregnancy
When you go to the dentist, make sure they know you’re pregnant.
Discuss with your dentist whether any new or replacement fillings should be delayed until after your baby is born. The Department of Health and Social Care advises that amalgam fillings should not be removed during pregnancy.
If you need a dental X-ray, your dentist will usually wait until you’ve had your baby, even though most dental X-rays do not affect the tummy or pelvic area.
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Will I Need Antibiotics After Oral Surgery
Most people don’t need antibiotics after oral surgery. There are some cases when your dentist may recommend themfor example, if you have some heart conditions or cirrhosis of the liver.
A dentist may also prescribe antibiotics for individuals with a history of infective endocarditis or a weakened immune system.
