Expectant women have unique thoughts when it comes to dental care. Failing to care for your oral health during pregnancy could have serious effects on you and your child. Your teeth and gums are more prone to bacterial accumulation during pregnancy this is because there is an associated increase in hormone levels. It is mandatory to take a proper care of your teeth before, during and after pregnancy to maintain your oral health and that of the developing baby. By maintaining your oral health, you will reduce your risk of complications.
Read More: Braces During Pregnancy: Is It Safe?
A Guide for Abscess Tooth During Pregnancy
What is An Abscess Tooth?
A tooth abscess is the production and collection of pus in the center of a tooth, the pulp of the tooth. It leads to swollen gums, toothache or sometimes both. The abscess can occur at different regions of the tooth for different reasons
During pregnancy, your gums might tend to swell due to certain changes in hormones. You also might get tooth decay, which can lead to a tooth infection which can be mild or extensive. That infection can spread and cause severe health complications, and therefore must be handled with proper care, but if the infection is left untreated, it may result in abscess formation in the damaged tooth.
There are three different types of dental abscess
- Peri-apical abscess:this abscess is present in the soft pulp of the tooth.
- Gingival abscess:The abscess is associated with its presence in gum tissue and does not affect the tooth or the periodontal ligament (PDL).
- Periodontal abscess: This abscess occurs in the supporting bone tissue structures of the tooth.
What causes tooth abscess?
The abscess typically can arise from any bacterial infection, even by one which has built up in the soft pulp of the tooth. But commonly, Plaque. It contains bacteria; the product of food, saliva and bacteria sticks to the teeth and damages them and the gums. If the plaque isn’t treated or removed by regular brushing and proper flossing, the bacteria can spread towards the soft tissue of the tooth or gums. This can eventually lead to the formation of a pocket of pus called abscess.
These can add more to the problem,
- Consumption of heavy amount of sugar and starch in food and drinks.
- Any injury, cracked tooth or surgery of the tooth.
- Weak immunity.
- Poor oral hygiene
- Gum disease.
- Vomiting during pregnancy can also cause tooth decay due to the acidic nature of the vomit content. To avoid any dental problem due to vomiting during pregnancy, rinse your mouth after a vomiting.
- An increased level of progesterone causes gum disease.
- Deficiency of calcium in your diet weakens your teeth.
A gum abscess is caused when bacteria in the oral cavity infects the area between tooth and gum. Some gum abscesses result from periodontitis disease, which is a result of poor oral hygiene. Periodontitis occurs when plaque accumulates under the gums. A periodontal deep pocket can also cause gum abscess. A periodontal pocket is a space that builds around the teeth due to any gum disease. Bacteria can be present in this space. If food and plaque become embedded in this area, bacteria can thrive.
At home, you can push on the infected soft tissue and maybe some pus will come out. But this won’t prevent the problem; in fact you may push that infected pus into a tissue space that will spread the disease more. It will lead to even bigger inconvenience on your end. It is not advised to drain dental abscess at home. Some dental infections have the ability of spreading into the throat causing airway closure and sudden death of the person. It can also spread into the skull, infecting the brain and causing death.
Symptoms of abscessed tooth
You might notice some of these symptoms if you are suffering from abscessed tooth.
The main symptom of dental abscess if pain. The pain may be throbbing and intense. It can start suddenly and may gradually increase by time. It can also spread to jawbone, neck and ear.
Treating dental abscess naturally during pregnancy
If you are pregnant and suffer a tooth abscess, you should see your dentist immediately. Expectant moms who have swallowing and breathing problems should not take it further. Much delay can cause the infection to thrive and may affect the health of the mother and the baby causing complications. You can avoid your chances of getting any dental problems during pregnancy by maintaining good oral hygiene.
Honey: It contains antibacterial properties which help to maintain healthy gums.
Triphala: it is a very effective remedy to reduce oral bacteria causing infections. Add it with water and gargle.
Baking soda: it helps neutralize the acid that cause gum disease. Sprinkle it on your tooth brush or add it with your toothpaste while brushing teeth.
Tea tree oil: it has anti inflammatory properties which make it the best remedy to treat dental problems. Add a few drops of it to water and rinse your mouth.
Olive oil: it strengthens your teeth and control plague formation. Add it to your meals.
It can be prevented before by exercising good oral habits like,
- Brushing and flossing
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Sea Salt
But sometimes it might get severe to treat at home. In this case you should visit your local dentist. He can deep clean your teeth and help get rid of plaque build-up that is causing gum disease. You should go for your dental treatments during second trimester. If the bacterial infections are serious, your dentist may prescribe you antibiotics to help cure the infection. He might even prescribe mouth rinse to treat the problem. If the gum disease isn’t treatable by antibiotics or other treatments, your dentist might recommend surgery. But surgery is a major thing, so it is best to consult with your dentist before going through with it.
Reference
www.natural-homeremedies.com
