How are your teeth doing??

yaramak · June 2011

I am sooo curious to know if anyone else is having dental problems!

During my first trimester I got a HUGE hole on the side of one molar, and my dentist and doctor both told me that basically all the calcium my body gets has been going to the baby's bones and not to me anymore. I got the hole filled in and was given some special toothpaste, and since then I have been SO careful about taking care of my teeth and taking a little extra calcium supplements.

Now, yesterday I could feel something funny on another molar and thought some food was stuck between my teeth. I look in my mouth and find that one molar has a big chunk chipped off and is sort of stuck/wedged there. It moves a bit when I put my tongue there. It feels so weird and I keep thinking its going to come out and I'll swallow it accidentally.

Yup. My teeth suck.

AsOctoberFalls · June 2011

I've never even heard of that - how odd! Hope you can get it fixed easily.

DHYGchica3 · June 2011

Well your teeth are as calcified as they will ever be by the time they erupt. So in theory they are right about the baby taking your calcium up, but just not from your teeth. Your teeth go through a process of de-mineralization and re-mineralization on a daily basis, the minerals found in your saliva help to re-mineralize your teeth along with fluoride, which is why they put you on a prescription fluoride tooth paste.

Some people are more prone to certain types of oral bacterias, one person may get gingivitis easier and another may be more prone to cavities, both are caused by different bacteria. Hormone increase in pregnancy lets these bacteria thrive better, which is why more women experience gingivitis but they can also get cavities too.

You have to also take into account any acid exposure your teeth may have had from morning sickness or from eating carbohydrates which is the bacteria's main food source.

Chances are the cavity you had in first trimester was forming well before you were pregnant. All cavities start off small and then over time the integrity of the tooth structure fails and allows for bacteria to get under the enamel and cause more damage, by the time there is a hole in the tooth it usually means months have gone by into forming the cavity.

MFAinNYC · June 2011

I got a cleaning during second tri, and the dentist and hygienest were impressed by my teeth and gums. Apparently gingivitis and other issues are common during pregnancy.

TristaD81 · June 2011

My teeth suck too. Actually, it's my gums that suck because my gingivitis turned into periodontitis. No fun.

NatesWife81510 · June 2011

Yikes that's no fun! I just went to the dentist yesterday for my regular check up and they asked if I had morning sickness at all...I said yes from week 5 to week 28...the dentist said she could tell because my teeth had a little damage from the acid coming back up all the time, but nothing too bad. Got to love Pregnancy:)

mbritto4 · June 2011

MFAinNYC:
I got a cleaning during second tri, and the dentist and hygienest were impressed by my teeth and gums. Apparently gingivitis and other issues are common during pregnancy.

same with me

colorschemer · June 2011

DHYGchica3:
Well your teeth are as calcified as they will ever be by the time they erupt. So in theory they are right about the baby taking your calcium up, but just not from your teeth. Your teeth go through a process of de-mineralization and re-mineralization on a daily basis, the minerals found in your saliva help to re-mineralize your teeth along with fluoride, which is why they put you on a prescription fluoride tooth paste.
Some people are more prone to certain types of oral bacterias, one person may get gingivitis easier and another may be more prone to cavities, both are caused by different bacteria. Hormone increase in pregnancy lets these bacteria thrive better, which is why more women experience gingivitis but they can also get cavities too.
You have to also take into account any acid exposure your teeth may have had from morning sickness or from eating carbohydrates which is the bacteria's main food source.
Chances are the cavity you had in first trimester was forming well before you were pregnant. All cavities start off small and then over time the integrity of the tooth structure fails and allows for bacteria to get under the enamel and cause more damage, by the time there is a hole in the tooth it usually means months have gone by into forming the cavity.

This is all very interesting.

The first place my mind went with this post, and without any real knowledge, was to how overbred dogs lose their teeth prematurely. I always assumed that it was because they weren't getting enough calcium to support both themselves and the puppies, but I might have to rethink that. I'm sure there are other factors in dogs as well though (since I can't imagine that an overbred dog is getting the same sort of veterinary care as a pet).

dairygirl19 · June 2011

I don't have any problems this time.

In my first pregnancy though, my gums were swollen would bleed sometimes and my whole mouth hurt like crazy.

Feel better soon!

Lauren79 · June 2011

I am missing a a huge chunk of one of my molars, it broke about 2 months ago. It doesn't hurt so I have decided to wait until I have the baby before I get it fixed. I have also lost my one and only filling, I am going to have to get that fixed too.

jillybean222 · June 2011

Yikes! My gums bleed a bit when I floss but my teeth aren't getting holes in them.

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