Don’t have your teeth rot! – tooth decay
I love sweet things. While I’m pregnant I’d crave cookies, chips, and coffee; and sometimes I’d even mix it all up! The things that being pregnant does to you. And you know that it’s also not just the things you eat but also the frequency of eating. I’d be snacking throughout the entire day!
Even though I still brush twice a day I was worried that I was eating too much sugar and how that might affect my teeth. I certainly wouldn’t want any cavities, or worse, lost teeth.
I went to my dentist to see if my suspicions were correct, and it seemed like I was partly correct. The dentist told me that I was right to think that the increase in sugars could lead to cavities since there are bacteria in the mouth which use the sugars to create acids which then create cavities on the tooth.
What I didn’t know was that it’s not just sugar but also the frequency of eating that’s most important, in addition to the sugars. The dentist said that whenever I eat anything related to carbohydrates like sugars, or rice, there will be acids attacking my teeth, but over time it’ll go back to normal and the teeth can recover. But, when I frequently eat the sugary snacks that I love, I’m not giving enough time for my teeth to recover from the acid attacks and that’s bad!
I was told that the cravings I get could be related to nutrients that I need and the sugars were needed for energy. After all my body is trying to keep two of us alive. When I heard that, I was wondering what I could eat instead of sugar – to give what my body needs. Instead of cookies I’ve decided to eat more whole grain foods like breads and pasta, but I had to make sure they won’t stick to my teeth either since that could make the acid last longer.
With this knowledge, I think I can safely get through this pregnancy with all my teeth too and I hope you can get through yours safely too!
Pregnancy and Me 