Pregnancy can bring some dramatic changes to a woman's body. The physical transformation isn't just limited to a baby bump, enlarged breasts or swollen feet. There are different ways the body starts showing signs of wear and tear.
That's why it's all the more important that expecting mums take extra care of their nutrition and dietary habits.
After all, you are consuming food and energy for two lives, and when the baby does not get sufficient nutrition, they are likely to consume from your share in the body.
That's what happened with this 36-year-old mum from the US who lost her teeth during her first pregnancy 15 years ago. The mum recently shared her story on the social media app TikTok and also her physical transformation over the years.
Alicia's story puts the focus on dental health during pregnancy and why mums should be extra cautious about their bodies and learn about any deficiencies beforehand.
What Happened?
Alicia suffered from a rare side effect where all her teeth fell out during pregnancy. The mum was not on a great diet while she was expecting and that further deteriorated her dental health during pregnancy.
In her now-viral TikTok video, the mum said she was "genetically predisposed to extreme calcium loss,” which caused her teeth to become brittle and hollow.
She added, "Pregnancy stripped things out of my body that I didn’t know I didn’t have - mostly calcium from my teeth."
Losing your teeth while pregnant is extremely rare. You are less likely to have dental problems during pregnancy if you look after your teeth and gums regularly.
However, In Alicia's case, her side effect not only affected her teeth but her confidence as well. The mum's self-esteem was at an all-time low after losing her teeth at the age of 21 years. But she decided to make changes and work towards a complete physical transformation.
The Transformation Boosted Her Morale
The mum now shares her transformation videos on TikTok with over 1.13 million followers. Using makeup, a wig and new dentures, Alicia looks like a completely different person
Sharing her story, Alicia wrote in her post, “I lost value in myself. I almost gave up on my happiness. Instead, I choose to fight for it. Daily.”
What Do The Netizens Say?
Alicia's inspiring story has been an inspiration to others. Her followers on TikTok have been completely supportive and encouraged her for all the choices she's made.
One user wrote, “Beautiful before AND after.” Another follower commented, “You are a gem! Keep up the positive content! You give inspiration to many others.”
Another user commented how she found the courage of getting her own dental issues fixed after seeing Alicia's videos.
She wrote, “You’ve made me go to the dentist finally to get my teeth fixed. I was so scared to have dentures but you’ve normalised it for me.”
Dental Health During Pregnancy
Dental health does not need overt attention during pregnancy but regularly keeping up does help maintain a good set of pearly whites.
However, oral health is a necessary part of your prenatal health and involves taking care of your mouth, teeth and gums.
How Does Pregnancy Affect Dental Health?
Expecting mums will see a number of changes in their teeth and gums including:
- Tender gums
- Nausea due to brushing and flossing
- Toothache or pain
- Cavities
- Redness or swelling of gums (gingivitis)
- Bleeding of the gums
- Loose teeth
- Tooth erosion
- Pregnancy tumours or lumps that form on the gums between teeth
5 Ways To Prevent Dental Health During Pregnancy
But all of these can be avoided, if you take good care of your dentures and your dental health, in general. Here's how you can do it successfully.
- Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day.
- Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and make to regularly remove plaque from your teeth
- Use antacids to rinse your mouth if brushing is a problem. Make sure to consult your dentist before purchasing one.
- Visit your dentist regularly, at least once in six months for the overall upkeep of your oral health
- Eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and low-dairy products.
- Go easy on the sweets
- For mums with morning sickness, try rinsing your mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water to stomach acid from damaging your teeth.
- Stop smoking
Hopefully, Alicia's story will inspire other mums to be more careful of their dental health during pregnancy.
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