by Amanda Charles
As someone who has always taken good care of their teeth, I was shocked to find that I had five cavities at my dentist appointment. The most important detail was that I was expecting my first baby. Although I consistently brushed my teeth morning and night, I flossed sporadically and struggled to build flossing into my daily routine. There always seemed to be an excuse: I was out of floss picks, my gums were too sensitive (ironically from a lack of flossing), or sometimes I would just forget. When my dentist showed me my x-rays and confirmed that I would need five cavities filled once I had delivered my baby, I was understandably irritated and very discouraged.
Fast forward a few years and I was pregnant with my second child. This time, I was determined to be more intentional with my oral hygiene during pregnancy and that meant flossing. Fortunately, I had just purchased the Slate Electric Flosser! The ergonomic handle made it fast and easy to use and the floss head design combined with the sonic vibrations helped me feel like my teeth were actually getting clean. I kept it right next to my electric toothbrush and almost without trying, flossing became part of my nightly routine.
I was nervous heading into my most recent dentist appointment at 37 weeks pregnant, but I was also excited. I had been flossing daily for over three months and this felt like the true test of the Slate Flosser. Would it actually make a difference? Would my being pregnant override the effects of flossing? Would my dentist be able to tell?
Within minutes of starting my routine cleaning, the dental hygienist commented on how little plaque I had and asked what I had been doing differently. When the dentist came in a few minutes later, he delivered the wonderful news that I had no cavities and no signs of gingivitis. He even said that I had “the healthiest gums he had ever seen on a pregnant woman.” I was shocked and thrilled to receive such positive feedback and that triumphant feeling made it the best dental visit of my adult life.
My disappointing experience at the dentist while pregnant with my first child is a fairly common one. Many women have increased issues with their oral health while growing their babies, largely because being pregnant puts you at higher risk for tooth decay and pregnancy gingivitis. This happens for a variety of reasons. Increased vomiting makes your mouth significantly more acidic than normal, pregnancy cravings may lead to an increased intake of sugary food which can lead to cavities, and irregular hormone changes can impact your gums.
Maintaining healthy teeth while pregnant requires a consistent routine. I learned in my first pregnancy that consistent brushing and occasional flossing weren’t enough. As someone with tight contacts between my teeth, that’s where ALL of my cavities were. Leftover food and debris were getting stuck between my teeth and because I wasn’t flossing, they stayed there. The Slate Flosser was the most effective tool I could use at home to remove that debris and fully clean my teeth.
I found my dentist’s commentary on my gum health surprising. Why was it impressive that my gums were healthy? Well, according to the CDC, gingivitis affects 60% to 75% of pregnant people. This is likely because an increase in estrogen and progesterone while pregnant often causes pregnancy gingivitis.
Symptoms of pregnancy gingivitis include:
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Redness
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
There are enough difficult bodily changes resulting from pregnancy without adding gingivitis to the list. So, what can be done? You guessed it! Flossing. Gingivitis can be prevented by regularly stimulating the gums and increasing blood flow. Flossing not only offers that stimulation but it also cleans the gumline, ridding it of bacteria and irritating debris. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to gum disease which is linked to preterm delivery and low birth weight.
As someone who understands the all-consuming exhaustion of pregnancy, I realize that flossing can sometimes feel like a tall order. However, if you’re serious about maintaining your oral health while pregnant, there is simply no other option. My number one recommendation is to invest in a Slate Electric Flosser. It’s intentionally designed to make flossing faster and easier. The sonic vibrations provide the gum stimulation needed to prevent gingivitis while the woven floss and gum sweeps thoroughly clean between your teeth. It’s a low-maintenance addition to your nightly routine that is bound to yield positive results. So, if you’re ready to give your teeth a little TLC head over to our product page and *add to cart. Your post-pregnancy teeth will be oh so grateful.