Avoiding brushing teeth after childbirth is advice given to many women postpartum. However, is it scientifically correct to avoid brushing teeth after childbirth, or how should one properly care for their oral hygiene after giving birth?
1. Avoiding brushing teeth after childbirth
Women are advised to avoid brushing their teeth after childbirth to prevent weakening or losing teeth in old age. However, this advice is scientifically incorrect for the following reasons:
- The causes of tooth sensitivity or weakened teeth after childbirth are due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and postpartum. In addition, mothers may lack essential nutrients such as vitamins, iron, and calcium due to breastfeeding, leading to oral health issues such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
- Avoiding brushing teeth after childbirth can lead to bacterial accumulation in the mouth, causing oral problems like bad breath, tartar buildup, which can result in periodontal disease, gum inflammation, and more.
- Enhancing meals with high protein and nutritional content for breastfeeding and postpartum recovery can lead to food plaque formation in between teeth, at the roots, and the gums, causing cavities, gingivitis, bleeding gums, weakening, and loosening of teeth.
2. What should be avoided after giving birth?
So, after giving birth, what should mothers avoid? Instead of avoiding tooth brushing postpartum, mothers should:
- Avoid foods high in sugar and flour, such as candies and soft drinks, as they increase the risk of plaque formation on teeth, leading to tooth decay and erosion.
- Avoid highly seasoned foods like spicy, sour, too hot, or too cold items, as they may irritate the gums.
- Avoid kissing the baby on the mouth or feeding the baby with the mother’s mouth to prevent the transmission of oral bacteria that may cause dental issues.
Additionally, mothers need to ensure proper nutrition and maintain good oral health care instead of avoiding tooth brushing postpartum, specifically:
- Brush teeth twice a day and rinse the mouth after every meal. Tooth brushing and rinsing can be done with saline solution or warm water.
- Use dental floss to clean food debris after each meal.
- Use a soft toothbrush and brush properly to avoid damaging the teeth.
- Get regular dental check-ups and professional cleaning every six months.
- Ensure a nutritious diet at every meal, especially increasing calcium intake, as mothers often experience a significant deficiency in calcium after giving birth.
- Choose fiber-rich foods, nuts, fruits, dairy, and dairy products as snacks between meals to reduce hunger while providing many nutrients beneficial for breastfeeding mothers.
It is absolutely not advisable to refrain from brushing teeth after giving birth, as it can lead to dental problems later on. Instead, mothers should focus on maintaining good oral hygiene and eating a nutritious diet to recover quickly and enhance milk production for breastfeeding.
