Contents:
- Medical Video: 10 Ways to Kill a Toothache In a Minute
- Is it safe to remove teeth while pregnant?
- When should you pull teeth when pregnant?
Medical Video: 10 Ways to Kill a Toothache In a Minute
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make mothers more prone to tooth decay and gum infections. Vomiting because morning sickness during pregnancy can also have a negative impact on oral health. Gum disease during pregnancy is reported to be one factor in preterm birth. So, if the dental problem is already so severe that you have to pull your teeth out during pregnancy, is it safe?
Is it safe to remove teeth while pregnant?
In general, you must be anesthetized before pulling your teeth so you don't feel sick. The safety around anesthesia and the potential effect on the fetus in the womb is still being debated. Lidocaine is known to be able to enter the placenta through the mother's bloodstream, and is suspected of affecting fetal development.
But, it turns out that pulling teeth while pregnant is still relatively safe. A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association in 2015 reported that the use of lidocaine when removing teeth does not affect the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, or premature birth. The effect of this drug did not affect the baby's weight, after comparing between groups of pregnant women injected with Lidocaine and those who did not. Moreover, the benefits of extracting teeth to stop a tooth infection outweigh the risks.
However, you still must not forget to tell the dentist that you are pregnant as soon as you schedule a tooth extraction. Your doctor may consider lowering the dose or changing the type of anesthesia that will be given to you. Your doctor may also prescribe painkillers that are safer to consume during pregnancy.
To note, if you still feel unbearable pain, you should ask for additional drugs. You must feel as comfortable as possible when pulling teeth. If not, the stress you experience during the process can affect your fetus. The more comfortable you are, the easier it will be for drugs to work.
When should you pull teeth when pregnant?
The best time to pull teeth during pregnancy is in the second trimester of pregnancy. This is the safest time because at this time the fetus has developed quite well. If it is done too early in the first trimester, the fetus is still in critical stages of growth and development to stabilize its important organs. It is feared that the drugs that mothers receive when removing teeth at this time can affect fetal development.
Then, can it not be extracted from the third trimester? It can and is safe. But, pregnant women will be more difficult to sit long or lie flat on their back in the same position in the third trimester. Because, in the third trimester the pregnant mother's stomach will be bigger so that makes it uncomfortable if sitting for long.
Other dental treatments, such as teeth whitening and other cosmetic procedures, should be avoided during pregnancy.
