Does pregnancy ruin your teeth?

[Whataboutno]

My dentist said it doesn't but after surviving on coca cola and harbio for my second pregnancy I am now waiting to have a tooth pulled out a year down the line! What are your experiences did pregnancy make your teeth worse? Mine were not that good to begin with to be fair.

Mine were fine, but there's a reason you get free dental care during pregnancy nd for the year after.

Totally ruined mine when I had twins. It was before calcium supplements were advised and I maintain they simply sucked me dry, I had 2 fillings before they were born and now have 2 crowns, an extraction and about 10 more fillings. I look after my teeth! They were worse in the years after they were born, 13 years on the problems are further between.

My teeth have been so much worse during pregnancy. I've had to have a lot of fillings and several have broken. They've been in a lot of pain and bleeding.
They were just starting to be ok but I'm pregnant again now and they've started becoming pretty bad again

Sorry why does pregnancy ruin your teeth?

Hormones - the fluctuating levels can loosen teeth, increase gum swelling and increase plague production. It's a pretty common issue hence the NHS exemption during pregnancy and for 1 year after baby is born.

Because the tiny parasite you're growing sucks all the calcium and other nutrients out of your very bones, especially if your diet is sub optimal (as it often can be during pregnancy due to sickness)

My teeth crumbled during my pregnancies and have never been the same since. Parasites sounds about right 😂

My main problem was that I could hardly brush my teeth for the entire 9 months as it made me throw up. And I was throwing up a lot anyway. Lovely…..

Yes it does hence you get free dental care for 12 months post partum xx

Humans have haemochorial placentas that allow the foetus to draw nutrients directly from the mum's bloodstream. It's very invasive and means your body's needs are competing with the foetus' needs, in effect. You're building another body out of your own, hence teeth can suffer.

I had perfect teeth until I had my first 2 kids! Had my first filling late 20's. Bit of a gap before having my third baby...further problems with my teeth!

@OfficiallyBroken thanks for the insights! That explains why my teeth suddenly had so many problems after the birth of my son! I had no idea it was linked. Typical!

It has completely screwed up mine, having never had any issues previously I've now needed 4 fillings and had horrible sensitivity since being pregnant. It's been awful. (I've always brushed twice a day (sometimes more) and flossed.)

Weirdly, I've noticed that my gums and teeth are so sensitive just around my period. So the hormonal thing mentioned upthread makes sense to me.

My teeth were largely fine before pregnancies and then 3 of them crumbled over the following 2 years. They are OK right now, but I floss religiously and don't eat sugar.

It mainly affects gingival health due to hormone changes. Pregnancy itself doesn’t destroy your teeth but symptoms can contribute to it, such as morning sickness/nausea (which affects how often or well you brush your teeth) or snacking frequently throughout the day.

cavities develop from sugar in diet or plaque on teeth.

Teeth are also not a store of calcium like the bones are so the foetus doesn’t strip the teeth of minerals

Your dentist tells porkies. It definitely does affect your teeth. Most of the calcium in your teeth your baby sucks out.

I've heard this also. I'm not sure if it's true or not I have quite good teeth and mine were fine no issues.

Babies don’t suck calcium out of teeth!!
Ive honestly never heard such nonsense

A baby does not suck the calcium from your teeth!
Your diet will have changed and craving more sugar coupled with not brushing as well

The hormones can cause pregnancy gingivitis though

Pregnancy effects hormones which in some women can affect gingival health. It can also cause dietary issues, cravings/ vomiting, which in turn can cause tooth problems. But with a little extra care these issues can be management

I did get gum issues during my second pregnancy that never resolved but that could have just been age. I also chipped a tooth during labour 🙈

Which hormones affect gingival health?

Mines were fine too! Xx

Current thinking is progesterone