Before we go any further into this article, allow us to clarify the perceivable sentence ambiguity of this title: when we say how to avoid them‘, we’re referring to the four reasons mums end up at the dentist. We’re not discussing how to avoid mums. That would be mean!
Secondly, you may be wondering why this article is targeting mums in particular. Surely anyone is susceptible to poor dental hygiene! Unfortunately, mums are likely to fall off the dental bandwagon the moment their firstborn enters the world. Apparently, babies are an explosion of chaos that scramble priority and relegate self-care to an optional extra.
Many mums fall into this trap. Here are four weak moments of dental care among mothersand how we can address them.
Babies throw off entire routinesand dental care is a casualty
If you’re drunk on fatigue for months (even years) on end with no sleep continuity, it’s not too much of a stretch to understand how dental routines could go by the wayside. If mums lean on short-term sugar bursts to compensate for their sleepless schedules, this only fuels the problem. As most of us are aware, sugar and oral bacteria are a recipe for cavitiesand gum- and tooth-destroying tartar. The furrier your teeth, the further along these delightful concoctions have progressed.
How can mums prioritise their dental care routine again?
If mums have more than one bathroom in their house, it can help to place a toothbrush in each one. If they share their space with a partner, family member, or housemate, they could also ask them to replenish these visual displays when necessary.
Mums don’t necessarily need to use each toothbrush, but these brushes do serve as a visual reminder of dental care. When resuming their dental routine, mums should be mindful to brush twice daily for at least two minutes, not skimping on the floss or the mouthwash.
Teeth-staining beverages are popular among mums
Mums aren’t just guilty of this. Who doesn’t like sitting down with a soy latte, or a matcha latte, or a soft drink? You’re not even completely out of the woods with diet variants. Carbonated water is still acidic enough to harm teeth.
How can we rectify caffeine staining?
Motherhood is hard yakka, so mums should be allowed to sip their specialty latte of choice. By looking into safe teeth-whitening methods, mums can have the best of both worlds.
Bleaching strips are over-the-counter solutions ranging between $40$70 in price. Wear them daily for weeks at a time to see results. Alternatively, you can ask your dentist about custom trays and bleaching agents. Though they are more expensive than strips (ranging between $250$500), they will work faster than strips.
If you want to cut straight to the chase, you can invest in a $500 whitening laser procedure. Just so long as you steer clear of charcoal-based whiteners and toothpastewhich are so abrasive that they can actually have a reverse whitening effectyou can find a way to brighten your smile without sacrificing your much-needed caffeine fix!
Mums often use their teeth instead of scissors
Mum, can you open my snack?
Mum, can you cut the tag off my pajamas?
When mums receive these simple requests from their kids, they tend to use whatever tool is at their disposal. More often than not, their teeth are more immediately available than a pair of scissors. You can see where this is going.
How do you mend a broken tooth?
Human teeth are omnivorous rather than carnivorous. If they pull too hard on something, they are likely to strain and chip. If your teeth are bent out of shape you may ask your dentist about approaches to teeth straightening or bonding. Usually, $400 (or $700 per tooth), bonding utilizes a tooth-colored* (*note: the unstained variant) composite material to bond or reshape your tooth. The results last half a decade, so if you were wanting something more permanent, you may want to look into porcelain crowns or veneers (typically $2,000 per tooth).
The great thing about porcelain is it is white and stain-resistant. The bad thing about porcelain is it is more vulnerable to chipping than natural teeth. If mums were to invest in this option, they would have at least $2,000 riding on reaching for a pair of scissors next time.
The mouth endures hormonal and lifestyle set-backs during pregnancy
Pregnancy comes with a host of extra hormones, and the mouth doesn’t get out of this unscathed. Hormones combined with blood volume elevation can cause swollen gums, promoting gingivitis. Women suffering from morning sickness also risk weakening their tooth enamel. Stomach acid is designed to liquefy food particles, so enamel wouldn’t be unaffected by this more frequent exposure.
Pregnancy is also a time for guzzling food as much as it is for bringing it up. A pregnant lady is eating for at least two and will experience more intense cravings. It’s possible they may indulge in sugary snacks more frequently than before. The cherry on the top is that dental visits are thought to be unsafe for the developing baby.
How can women overcome these dental obstacles?
Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot you can do about morning sickness, which is often part of the pregnancy package. Anyone with an upset stomach could try sipping some stomach-soothing peppermint or ginger tea, or having a rest when they deem it necessary. For everything else, however, early dental intervention could work wonders.
So long as they have the all-clear from their OB-GYN, dental practices are mostly safeand even beneficialfor pregnant women. Despite public concern, dental cleanings, local anesthesia, and X-rays will not harm an unborn baby. Pregnancy may even be high time to undergo a check-up, in order to catch gingivitis and tooth decay early. If left untreated, gingivitis can escalate to gum disease, which is associated with low birth weights and premature births.
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