An old wives tale of for every child a mother has, she loses a tooth always puzzled me.  The thought was that the developing baby pulled calcium from the teeth and therefore rotted.  I was in disbelief but wondered why cavities did seem to form on pregnant women. Then I went through it and spoke with other mothers about it.

Acid reflux, indigestions and morning sickness can develop along with other stomach upsetting things during pregnancy.  How do we treat it? Ginger ale, soda crackers, Tums (antacids), and various other high carbohydrate foods make us feel better. These all have carbohydrates in them that leads to more acid production, especially the constant chewing of Tums. Acid coming from the stomach lowers the pH of the mouth causing a double whammy. It takes normal saliva 2 hours to reduce the amount of acids ingested from any carbohydrate back to normal (7).  Teeth start to lose the minerals in them at a pH 5.5.  The constant intake of acids plus the reflux from stomach acids leave pregnant moms at a loss.  It is an acid battle in the mouth that dissolves the teeth. 

Another occurrence in pregnant patients is the hormonal rise causing pregnancy gingivitis. Gum disease developing in expectant moms has been linked to low birth weight babies. It is recommended that the bacteria are flushed out of places the toothbrush and floss doesn’t reach in order to break up those colonies. It is not about clean teeth but healthy gums.

So, what do we do about the cavities and gum disease so prevalent in expectant moms? Watch the diet. Try to eat things that are low in carbohydrates or limit the frequency. Take your pre-natal vitamins.   Talk with your doctor about the possibility of an acid reducing medication, (I did and I could sleep through the night without heartburn). 

Another thing that is vital for all parents to know – this is shocking.  Babies are not born with the bacteria to create cavities.  We actually inoculate them with it.  We do this by kissing, tasting our baby’s food, sharing spoons and drinks.   All parents should be tested for the levels of Strep Mutans before the baby is born.  This way if you have high levels of the bacteria, treatment rinses is available through Carifree.com to create a healthy oral environment.  It is possible for your child to never have a cavity if you do not give the little one the bugs it takes to create them.  

Make sure you visit your dentist and try to get a full series of x-rays after your baby is delivered.