Did you experience toothache during pregnancy? Should you just endure it and it will pass? Or should you go to the hospital immediately?
Before answering this question, let’s first understand the causes of toothache during pregnancy
Dental pain during pregnancy can be caused by various oral diseases, such as dental caries, periodontal disease, wisdom tooth periodontitis, etc. Regardless of which oral disease causes the pain, these oral diseases will not heal on their own. Therefore, after symptoms appear, professional help should be sought as soon as possible to determine the cause and control it through specialized treatment.
However, some expectant mothers still hold onto a lucky mentality, thinking that just enduring their toothache will cure them. In fact, this is not the case. If you have toothache during pregnancy, you cannot delay or wait, and it must be treated as soon as possible.
Because oral diseases during pregnancy can pose multiple risks to both the mother and the fetus.

The harm of oral diseases to mothers
·Oral diseases can cause local pain and swelling in the mouth, affecting diet and sleep.
·Local oral infections that are not controlled in a timely manner can also cause interstitial infections, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.

What is interstitial infection?
The internal structure of our facial features is connected by many gaps that are not visible to the naked eye. Teeth and surrounding tissues are in communication with these deep gaps. When infections and inflammations spread from teeth and surrounding tissues, they can be transported and transferred along these invisible gaps, affecting other parts of the face.

The patient’s tooth infection caused infection and swelling around the eye sockets, cheeks, and even the entire face. What’s even more frightening is that swelling can bring compression. If it causes infection and inflammation swelling near the throat, the swelling can compress the respiratory tract, which may be life-threatening!
·Bacteria in oral lesions can reach the whole body through blood circulation, causing infections in other systems throughout the body. Any infection of an important body system or organ can have serious consequences.
·Without proper treatment and control, dental caries and periodontal diseases will not spontaneously stop progressing. When they develop to a certain extent, it can lead to the loss of the mother’s teeth.
·Oral diseases and systemic diseases such as diabetes also have synergistic effects. Not conducive to the control of systemic diseases and exacerbating related hazards.

The harm of oral diseases during pregnancy to the fetus
·Oral diseases during pregnancy not only pose a threat to the pregnant mother, but also to the baby in the womb.
·Any local or systemic factors that affect the health of pregnant mothers may have an impact on the formation and normal development of baby organs.
·Expectant mothers with periodontal disease have a significantly increased risk of premature birth and low birth weight newborns.
·Untreated cavities in the oral cavity of expectant mothers can transmit cariogenic bacteria from the mother’s mouth to the baby through close contact after birth, increasing the risk of dental caries in the baby.
There are so many hazards to toothache and oral diseases during pregnancy, so they need to be treated. Moreover, oral diseases that cause toothache during pregnancy are better treated early than late.
Early stage oral diseases have milder symptoms, less pain in treatment, lower complexity, shorter course and treatment time, lower cost, easier tolerance for pregnant women, lower risks, and are safer.

But pregnancy is a special period after all, what treatment recommendations will doctors give at different stages of pregnancy?
Treatment recommendations for different stages of pregnancy
Firstly, it should be noted that pregnant women can receive oral treatment throughout their entire pregnancy, provided that their overall health is in good condition.
Of course, the focus of treatment may vary during different stages of pregnancy.
Mid pregnancy treatment recommendations
Mid pregnancy (4-6 months) is a relatively stable period of pregnancy and a period with relatively low treatment risks. Chronic diseases, complex treatments, or relatively traumatic treatments should be scheduled for mid pregnancy.

Treatment recommendations for early and late pregnancy
Early pregnancy (1-3 months) or late pregnancy (7 months to delivery) can be treated with simple or minimally invasive treatments, as well as acute symptom management.
The safety of prenatal treatment
Necessary treatments during pregnancy, including dental photography and local anesthesia, are helpful for the fetus or expectant mother. Doctors will evaluate the overall condition of the pregnant woman and make necessary diagnosis and treatment.
So don’t endure toothache during pregnancy!
Accept the treatment advice of a dentist, take good care of your own oral health, and safely and smoothly pass through pregnancy!
Preventing toothache during pregnancy
Instead of waiting until the toothache becomes unbearable, it is better to take preventive measures in daily life. It is recommended to undergo routine oral examinations before and during early pregnancy to detect problems and eliminate potential hazards.
·It is recommended to fill shallow to moderate caries in a timely manner.
·The position of wisdom teeth is not correct, the blind pocket is deep, and it is easy to store food residues. It is recommended to remove them in a timely manner during the preconception period; If not removed before pregnancy, clean and regularly rinse during pregnancy.
·Accept professional oral health guidance, adhere to scientific and effective brushing, and maintain one’s own oral health.
·Patients with poor oral hygiene should regularly undergo professional plaque control.