Motherhood means a lot of different things at each stage of life. Whether you’re the mother to a young child, a teen, or even a full-grown adult determines a lot about how you feel about parenting.
As it turns out, your oral health is usually the same way. The problems people have with their teeth as they get older will tend to change, so you should adjust how you take care of them depending on your age.
This month is all about celebrating motherhood, so here’s a guide for things to keep in mind regarding your teeth at every stage of motherhood.
Expectant Mothers
Pregnancy can wreak havoc on the body in all kinds of different ways, and that extends to oral health. As you may have heard, pregnant women can sometimes lose their teeth due to a combination of hormonal changes and altered nutrition.
For that reason, it’s vitally important to take good care of your oral health during pregnancy. Brush twice a day, floss daily, and use antibacterial mouthwash to break up plaque deposits.
Young Mothers
When your child is born, you have two sets of teeth to care about—yours and theirs. While getting your child to their dentist is important, you should still make time to take care of your own teeth as well.
By modeling good habits, you can show your child how to take care of their teeth. Try brushing your teeth alongside them each night, and making your dental trips together as much as possible.
Older Mothers
Once your kids grow up and move away, you can take the time to re-evaluate things. Embrace the calm and find what to do with your newfound free time.
Part of that can involve taking stock of how your teeth are doing. As people age, their risk of gum disease increases, as does their odds of losing teeth. There are also some aesthetic changes to your smile—gums recede and teeth tend to become discolored with age. You may want to talk with your dentist about tooth replacement if you’re missing teeth, or cosmetic dentistry if you want to get a more youthful smile!
About the Author
Dr. Manuel Pazmino’s favorite thing about being a dentist is getting to see his patients leave his office much happier and healthier than when they came in. For him, there’s nothing more gratifying than seeing his face light up when they see their smile in the mirror. Dr. Pazmino received his degree from the New York University College of Dentistry, and since graduating has completed over 400 hours of continuing education.
If you have any questions about caring for your oral health as a mother, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (254) 778-3587.