During pregnancy, a lot of women suffer from nausea and vomiting. This is a common problem during pregnancy that normally goes away on its own after the first trimester. For some women, though, morning sickness will continue throughout the entire pregnancy. If you are struggling with this problem throughout your pregnancy, it's important to realize the effects vomiting may have on your teeth. It is also important to understand what you can do to reduce your risks of developing oral problems.

Effects of vomiting on your teeth

The main effect vomiting has on teeth is called tooth erosion. Erosion of the teeth refers to the process in which acid eats the enamel off teeth. This is a huge risk with frequent vomiting, simply because there is stomach acid in vomit. Each time you vomit, your teeth are exposed to this acid, and the acid can cause you to lose tooth enamel.

Tooth erosion does not only occur from vomiting during pregnancy. It is also very common with people who vomit from eating disorders, such as bulimia. Tooth erosion can also occur from drinking beverages that are highly acidic. Occasional vomiting will not harm your teeth in the same ways as frequent vomiting. Because of this, you should take the proper steps to make sure you protect your teeth against tooth erosion if your pregnancy is causing you to vomit often.

Steps you can take to protect your teeth

Acid that comes in contact with your teeth will harm them, but the level of harm done will depend on how long the acid remains on your teeth. In other words, if you take action immediately after vomiting, you can reduce the harmful effects of the acid. Here are some steps you can take to help reduce your risks of suffering from tooth erosion:

  1. Rinse your mouth out with water after you vomit.
  2. Rinse your mouth with salt water or baking soda and water. Each of these options will clean and neutralize the acids, and that will reduce the effects of the acid.
  3. Brush your teeth well after vomiting to help remove the acids.

As long as you rinse your mouth well after vomiting, you will reduce the harmful effects of the acids. You should also make sure you continue visiting your dentist throughout your pregnancy just to make sure your teeth are strong and healthy.

If you would like to learn more about the effects of pregnancy on your mouth, contact a dentist at an office like Centre Family Dentistry to schedule a visit today.

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