teeth sensitivity due to pregnancy?

[CloudBee]

My lower front teeth have been really sensitive the past few days. I had a cleaning scheduled for last week but ended up rescheduling for this weekend due to an obligation that came up. Now I'm thinking about rescheduling again because my teeth are so sensitive. My teeth are usually sensitive during cleanings as is.

Actually - I used sensitive toothpaste for years and stopped a few months ago. Maybe the effects have worn off?

This happens sometimes when I have PMS. Could pregnancy be causing similar sensitivity?

[zeewifeandmama]

Yes. My dentist and orthodontist both have told me that pregnancy can cause sore gums and teeth to shift.

[dancingirl21]

My dentist also said many women get inflamed gums that are sore because of the increased amount of blood in the body. He also said teeth may feel sore.

[niki]

Yes. I had to switch to sensitive toothpaste during my first pregnancy, and I still use it. Cold drinks were very painful.

[MamaMaui24]

Yes. Bleeding gums too.

A friend recently said that she got cavities after nursing?!?! Anyone heard of that one?

[cjeanette]

I would still go get them cleaned. I remember how bad it hurt. My dentist said I had pregnancy gingivitis that went away when the kids were born.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using proboards

[dcn]

Yes! Also, watch your teeth and take advantage of the extra dental visit that may be covered by your insurance when you are pg. I had FIVE cavities when I was pregnant. I had only had one in my entire life before that. Yikes.

[Deleted]

Yep. I feel like pregnancy really screwed with my body. My vision also went to shit.

[anna7602]

Ditto pp.

Not to alarm you, but the gum sensitivity/swelling continued while I breastfed DD. Dentist said it was totally normal because of the hormones, but it sucked. In total, I think I had about 5 or 6 terribly uncomfortable cleanings due to pregnancy and breastfeeding.

[chia]

I've actually had a dental hygienist ask if I was on my period during a cleaning before (I was) - she could tell because of the changes in my gums. So, hormones definitely make a difference!

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using proboards

[caramia17]

Note: I have not examined you and you are not a patient of record

Pregnancy/nursing can affect gingival inflammation, but usually would not affect true dentinal (tooth) sensitivity. As pregnancy hormones increase, a woman's body also has an increase in proinflammatory mediators like prostaglandins like PGE2 (pain molecules like those that are blocked by NSAIDs). So the same amount of plaque/bacteria causes more bleeding/inflammation in your gums. Decreasing the plaque in your mouth (via dental cleaning and thorough home care) has been demonstrated to decrease gingival bleeding and signs of inflammation in pregnant women.

While pregnancy gingivitis may increase gum soreness you should still get your teeth cleaned. The cleaning can help with the bleeding/inflammation and the cumulative increase in PGE2 can reach a threshold and has been linked to adverse oral symptoms like gingival swelling and possibly adverse pregnancy outcomes.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, your dentist can also do in-office sensitivity treatments and recommend an anti-sensitivity dentifrice (toothpaste). Definitely go to your appointment, but report all of your symptoms to your dentist.

[CloudBee]

My teeth aren't bleeding, and I don't see any plaque buildup. They always comment on how they never have to scrape during cleanings, and I haven't had a cavity in years. They are just hyper sensitive right now. I've been using the Nimbus Dental brushes once a day in addition to my regular brush the other times. That's helped a bit. I've also been really good about flossing and using a mouth rinse.

My gums might be a tiny bit swollen. (And swollen is too strong of a word because they really don't look/feel much different.) Could the pressure from that cause my teeth to be more sensitive?

[caramia17]

What toothpaste do you use? Is this sensitivity similar to what you have experienced in the past when you were not using sensitivity toothpaste?

My recommendation for patients with dentinal sensitivity is a two-pronged approach, in addition to any in office treatments and a thorough exam to determine any correctable underlying cause for the sensitivity, like recession (see below) or decay.

A toothpaste with Potassium Nitrate (Sensodyne, etc.) in the AM and one with Stannous Fluoride (currently only Crest ProHealth has this OTC) in the evening as both ingredients work against sensitivity, but in different ways.

Gum swelling usually doesn't cause sensitivity on the teeth, but gum recession can. Teeth can be particularly sensitive at the first signs of recession as the dentinal tubules or "pores" in the root surface are exposed for the first time and the nerves inside those "pores" experience depolarization with changes in the oral environment like hot/cold and hydrostatic forces. Definitely let your dentist know about your symptoms and have a thorough exam. Gum recession can be treated with a gingival graft (I have had one and am a periodontist (gum surgeon) so I obviously think this is a good option), but they will not do this electively while you are pregnant.

Again, this is not medical advice and you should seek care from your treating doctor.

[CloudBee]

I went from Aquafresh and/or Crest sensitive toothpaste to basic Aquafresh a few months ago.

[caramia17]

Try the 2 toothpaste approach in advance of your appt. It will likely take at least a week to notice a lasting change if the sensitivity is significant, so don't get discouraged.

Good luck!

[CloudBee]

Thanks, and I won't push off my cleaning for another week. I'll keep it for this weekend.