Articles :: Is dental treatment possible during lactation?

Content:

1. Is it permissible to use local anesthetics?
2. Anesthetics that can be used by nursing mothers
3. Is it possible to feed a baby immediately after dental treatment is completed?
4. How to reduce the likelihood of developing dental disease after childbirth

Many women experience the need for dental treatment while breastfeeding. This is due to the increased load on the body of a young mother, calcium deficiency, and hormonal changes. If you have a toothache, it is very important to seek qualified dental care as soon as possible. The doctor will tell you whether the disease can be treated without interrupting lactation.

What to do when a tooth hurts during breastfeeding

Dental treatment during pregnancy is not prohibited if it is performed by an experienced dentist. Only he can properly relieve pain and eliminate provoking factors. Before starting treatment, you should tell your dentist about breastfeeding so that the doctor can select safe medications. X-ray examinations are not contraindicated, since during the procedure the patient’s body is protected by a lead apron. After the procedure, doctors recommend expressing breast milk.

Filling crowns and extracting masticatory organs is also permitted using safe medications. There is no need to switch to artificial feeding during this period. Prosthetics, implantation, and installation of braces are not advisable. It is important to contact a specialist in time, then harm to the mother and child will be excluded.

Painkillers

Painkillers for toothache should be prescribed to a nursing mother by a doctor. If a woman decides to drink something on the advice of a neighbor, it can be harmful to her health, because the drug may not be suitable for the patient.

• The specialist will select medications with a short-term effect that are not dangerous for mother and baby.
• He will correctly determine the dose of the drug.
• The doctor will explain to the woman when the medicine leaves the milk.
• Modern antibiotics that are compatible with breastfeeding are usually prescribed.

According to indications, the dentist may prescribe Nurofen, which is not contraindicated even for the smallest children. Panadol, paracetamol, acetaminophen, efferalgan, injections of ultracaine, ice-caine are prescribed. as local anesthetics, which are used only as injections. Voltaren and Ortofen are eliminated from the body quickly; after 2 hours the concentration becomes minimal. Sometimes you can get by with rinsing your mouth with furatsilin or Kalgel gum gel.

ethnoscience

Painkillers for toothache while breastfeeding are selected by a doctor. To relieve discomfort, you can additionally take decoctions and tinctures after consultation with your dentist.

1. Rinsing the mouth with salt water, baking soda solution, sage or chamomile infusion.
2. Dental drops are available from pharmaceutical preparations.
3. A decoction of oak bark is often recommended in such cases.
4. Rinsing your mouth with bigluconate or chlorhexidine will help.
5. Sometimes a hydrogen peroxide solution is used to rinse.
6. A piece of fresh lard or raw beets is placed on the affected tooth.

These recipes from traditional healers have been tested by time and practice. But you shouldn’t expect miraculous healing from them. They will only alleviate the condition of a sick woman, as they are additional means of therapy. In order not to provoke a deterioration of the condition, the carious cavity should not be clogged with food particles. Therefore, after each meal you should rinse your mouth with clean water.

Is it permissible to use local anesthetics?

There is a myth that any dental painkillers are strictly contraindicated for nursing mothers. It is because of this that women put off a visit to the dental clinic - only a few are ready to treat a sore tooth without anesthesia.

In fact, local anesthetics can be used during lactation. Not all medications are suitable, but the list of safe options is wide. Therefore, the patient will definitely not have to endure severe pain during the treatment of a deep carious cavity, pulpitis or advanced inflammation.

It is very important that the patient warns the dentist in advance that she is breastfeeding. Then the doctor will be able to choose the optimal pain reliever for her.

If the upcoming intervention is very serious and requires the mandatory administration of a potent analgesic, you should discuss with your doctor the possibility of carrying out all the manipulations later - when the lactation period is over. If the disease does not tolerate delay, arguing with a specialist is not only pointless, but also harmful to health - you just need to trust him.

Often, after dental therapy, the dentist prescribes a course of antibiotics. This also confuses mothers, since all antibacterial agents are excreted in milk, which means they can pose a danger to the newborn. In fact, there is no need to worry. If the doctor is warned about lactation, he will choose exactly the medicine that will not harm the baby. But the mother’s independent refusal of antibiotic therapy can lead to serious complications.

It is important to understand: in most cases, postponing therapy until later results in serious problems. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether dental treatment is allowed during breastfeeding is affirmative. And the sooner a woman visits the dentist, the higher her chances of a speedy recovery.

Is it possible to treat teeth while breastfeeding?

A healthy mother means a healthy baby! Therefore, putting off going to the dentist if your tooth hurts during lactation is not the best option. If you have dental diseases during breastfeeding, you must definitely treat them.

Procedures

There is no need to be afraid of dental x-rays during lactation. It is a myth that X-rays are harmful to breast milk. A lead apron is used to protect the chest and abdominal area.

It is worth remembering that installing a filling is the only procedure that is allowed for a nursing mother. You should forget about implantation or installing braces for a while.

Anesthesia drugs

During treatment for nursing mothers, modern short-acting painkillers are used - lidocaine or ultracaine. They are absolutely safe and completely leave the body after 4-5 hours. To be on the safe side, it is still advisable to feed the child before visiting the dentist.

If you do not trust the anesthetics listed above, then you should consult with your doctor, explaining exactly what problems are bothering you. He will prescribe an individual pain reliever that will not harm either you or the baby.

Anesthetics that can be used by nursing mothers

In dentistry, pain relief is usually classified into general and local. In the first case, we are talking about anesthesia - intravenous or inhalation. Local anesthesia is the numbing of an inflamed area using an injection, gel or spray. It is highly undesirable to use general anesthesia when providing dental care to nursing mothers. If this cannot be avoided, then until complete recovery the woman should feed the baby with a special infant formula or pre-prepared breast milk.

Among the local anesthetics used by dentists are:

• Novocaine. Allowed during lactation only in cases where the expected benefit for the woman is much higher than the possible risks for the baby. Before administering the solution to the patient, the dentist must weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes the medication causes negative side effects: headaches, weakness, drowsiness, convulsions, dizziness, arrhythmia, bradycardia, swelling of the lips.
• Lidocaine. The official instructions state that only a doctor can prescribe medicine to breastfeeding women. The drug passes into milk in very small quantities, and its oral bioavailability is low. This means that the amount of active substance that is released in milk is minimal. Therefore, the potential harm to the child is low. Possible adverse reactions after the administration of lidocaine: numbness of the tongue, convulsions, drowsiness, tinnitus, blurred vision, angioedema, urticaria and some others.
• Articaine. A product approved for both pregnant and lactating women. Dentists use it if they need to perform infiltration or conduction anesthesia. Side effects of the drug include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, allergies.

Attention! Nursing mothers are prohibited from administering anesthetics that contain high amounts of adrenaline. Such drugs negatively affect the baby’s health, in particular, they provoke negative changes in the child’s cardiac activity.

Is it possible to feed a baby immediately after dental treatment is completed?

Ideally, three to five hours should pass between the administration of the anesthetic and the application of the crumbs to the breast. Knowing this, a woman can prepare a portion of milk for one feeding.

During a forced break in lactation, it is recommended to pump. This simple measure will eliminate the occurrence of painful and unpleasant sensations.

How to reduce the likelihood of developing dental disease after childbirth

In order not to worry once again about dental diseases during the difficult period of recovery of the body after childbirth, it is important to follow the recommendations:

1. At the pregnancy planning stage, cure all existing oral diseases.
2. If caries appears, consult a doctor immediately. While the carious cavity is small, it can be treated absolutely painlessly without the use of anesthetics.
3. Always practice good oral hygiene.
4. Get routine checkups at your dentist's office twice a year.

Women who care about the health of their smile are much less likely to encounter the need for dental treatment during lactation.

Treatment of gum inflammation during pregnancy -

Treatment of gingivitis at the dentist can begin at the end of the 1st trimester, starting from the 9th week (by this time the fetus has already completed organogenesis).
Accordingly, after this period it is already possible to remove dental plaque with ultrasound - the safety of this has been shown in clinical studies (Lopez et al. 2002, 2005). Such periodontal therapy can then be safely carried out throughout the entire 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Therapy for gum inflammation in pregnant women will depend on the form of gingivitis, i.e. from the predominance of symptoms of catarrhal or hypertrophic form. Let us recall that a symptom of hypertrophic gingivitis is the growth of the gingival margin (gingival papillae).

1) Treatment of catarrhal form of gingivitis in pregnant women -

The catarrhal form of gingivitis develops in pregnant women against the background of insufficient hygiene and an increase in microbial plaque. Changes in hormonal levels are more of a provoking factor here than the root cause of the development of gingivitis. Let us remember that this form is primarily characterized by bleeding and swelling of the gums, as well as their pain when brushing your teeth. Treatment will include the following activities:

• Removal of dental plaque –Previously, it was believed that pregnant women could only remove dental plaque using hand instruments - special sharp curettes. However, there is now a lot of research that ultrasonic cleaning is the most common safe procedure (after 8 weeks of pregnancy). However, it is recommended not to set the ultrasonic scaler to the highest power, and also not to work too aggressively with the ultrasonic tip in deep periodontal pockets.
  Regarding the removal of dental plaque with hand instruments, the opinion of doctors has now changed dramatically. This is due to 1) the high traumatic nature of this method for the gums, 2) high traumatic potential is always accompanied by bacteremia, i.e. entry of bacteria into the bloodstream.

• Anti-inflammatory therapy – a 10-day course is usually prescribed, consisting of antiseptic rinses, as well as applications with special anti-inflammatory gels. Below we list several tools to choose from.
  Antiseptic rinses: a) Chlorhexidine solution 0.05% (instructions) course 10 days (no more), 2 times a day in the morning and evening after oral hygiene. Rinse your mouth for a full minute each time. b) rinsing with non-alcoholic infusions of herbs: chamomile, sage, eucalyptus. V) Fluoride rinses: Fluoride not only strengthens teeth, but also has a caries-static effect on plaque and therefore reduces inflammation in the gums. When choosing rinses, make sure that they do not contain alcohol or antibiotics (for example, triclosan).

  Applications of anti-inflammatory drugs a) MetrogilDenta gel (instructions) contains metronidazole 10 mg and chlorhexidine 0.5 mg. This drug is not recommended for pregnant women only in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, but can be used in the 2-3 trimesters. During lactation, the issue of stopping breastfeeding for the duration of use should be decided. b) CholisalGel (instructions) contains choline salicylate and cetalkonium chloride. Use in pregnant women is possible, but with caution, i.e. as prescribed by the dentist.

  Such anti-inflammatory gels are applied to the marginal part of the gums, interdental papillae - primarily from the front surface of the teeth. After application, it is advisable not to eat or rinse your mouth for 2-3 hours (you can drink). Apply 2 times a day in the morning and evening after, for example, rinsing with chlorhexidine 0.05%. The course is no more than 10 days.

  Photos Before and After Gingivitis Treatment –

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In addition, it is worth noting the great importance of maintaining a proper diet. Those. It is vital to avoid frequent snacking between meals and consumption of sugary drinks. If you eat cookies or candy, you need to go brush your teeth. Also, as an additional therapeutic measure, you can use special anti-inflammatory toothpastes that will help cope with swelling and bleeding of the gums.

→ Rating of toothpastes for bleeding gums

Treatment of hypertrophic gingivitis –

This form of gingivitis is characterized by the growth of the marginal gums and gingival papillae, and high bleeding. Mild forms of hypertrophic gingivitis, as a rule, heal on their own in most pregnant women immediately after childbirth. If the cause of gum growth is the overhanging edges of fillings and crowns, then they need to be corrected. Local treatment during pregnancy should consist of maintaining good hygiene, removing dental plaque, and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory therapy.

More severe forms of the disease may require active treatment - courses of sclerosing therapy (injections of sclerosing solutions into the gingival papillae) or surgical correction of the gingival margin. This treatment is carried out after childbirth. You can read more about the treatment of hypertrophic gingivitis here .