Wisdom Teeth and Pregnancy « Back to Group Discussions

[pregnova]

When I was 14 or something, my mouth was x-rayed and the dentist sort of flipped out about my wisdom teeth and tried to convince my mom that I needed them removed IMMEDIATELY because they were that awful. At the time, I wasn't even feeling them, but apparently, they're not aligned in any sort of way that my mouth will be able to handle should they come through. 

Fast forward to this pregnancy, and I have a wisdom tooth trying to break through that's pretty much painful as heck. I read up about it, and even if I was comfortable with the idea of seeing a dentist about it while pregnant (which I'm not very thanks to the antibiotics and painkillers it looks like it would take), it looks like they can't do anything until you're in the second trimester anyway. Yikes. So, it looks like I might be just sucking it up and suffering through this hoping that it's just a flare up and will die down soon. 

Anyone else with teeth acting up in this pregnancy? Or experience with this sort of thing? I know about salt water gargling (GAG while sick with MS!) and keeping the area clean to prevent infection...toothpaste, mouthwash, etc... and I know that Ibuprofen is 'acceptable' in pregnancy although I'd like to avoid that as well for the time-being. 

[dogretro]

Ibuprofen is NOT acceptable during pregnancy! http://arthritis.emedtv.com/nsaids-(nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs)/nsaids-and-pregnancy.html Codeine, vicadin, and percocet are okay, which is weird. Tylenol is also okay, but prob not enough for they pain you have. If you go in for a look, they will prob prescribe you something heavier.

I am actually going in for a root canal on Monday. It's one I knew I needed, but I was waiting for my insurance roll-over at the beginning of the year. Well, we all know what happened at the beginning of the year ;) Fine, whatever, except that it flared up horribly this week. I am not comfortable living w/ the mid-grade pain and chance that it will flare up again worse in the next 4-6 weeks. I am more okay w/ getting one x-ray and being done. I am currently taking penicillin for a persistent gum infection that has been hanging around for months & decided to flare up last week, too (I blame my bad cold & pg for getting my body's defenses way down).

My husband & I both have bad teeth, in case you couldn't tell from what I've written :p I have had a root canal performed during the third trimester, which is safer. The heavy painkillers are okay & you can cut the pills up. I only take 1/4 - 1/2 if the pain is really bad. I also figure, this early on, it's not like antibiotics are going to affect the baby's guy flora since they probably don't even have a gut yet. If they do, they have 7 more months to get rebalanced. You also don't *have to* take the antibiotics if you don't want to. They are precautionary. I have had many root canals done w/out antibiotics.

Don't know if my experiences were much help, but that is how I have approached things so far. It very well may be a flare up that calms down soon. If nothing else, if you are okay w/ it, go in for some stronger painkillers for the time being. It's not that the dentist can't pull them now, it's recommended to wait. Obv, mine will still do the work I need b/c it's 'emergency'.

[pregnova]

Thanks for that, I had my info wrong I guess. I actually thought it was ibuprofen that was alright and tylenol that was bad in pregnancy??

My tooth seems the tiniest bit better today so long as I'm careful to chew on the opposite side of my mouth...and very slowly at that. But, any relief feels massive the way it was acting up yesterday! So, I think I'll just sit on this...just not too comfortable going in for something that seems intense (dentally speaking) to me WITHOUT being able to get as comfortable as a non-preggo if you know what I mean ;-) Fingers crossed this dies down completely and I can get through the pregnancy without needing a dentist!

[OrangeMoon]

My bottom wisdom teeth have been slowly coming in and one really hurt for a while but has stopped. Wanted to say the pp was right about no ibuprofen but tylenol is okay. Ibuprofen is actually worse at the end of the pregnancy though vs the beginning so don't worry. This was a surprise pregnancy so I hope if I need these teeth pulled it won't have to happen until post birth though. My gut tells me they'll be fine though. Good luck!

[Amanda1]

When I was preganat with DS I had a wisdom tooth out. I went in with severe pain expecting them to tell me to wait untill after he was born but to my shock they did it right then and there. It had already broken through the skin so they were able to just pull it out with the same kind of freezing they give you for a filling. I was able to eat soft foods a few hours later. Not the huge ordeal I expected.

I cant remember when it was but I think late in 2 trimester or early 3rd.

You could be lucky and it would be that easy!

[dandylez]

Originally Posted by pregnova 

When I was 14 or something, my mouth was x-rayed and the dentist sort of flipped out about my wisdom teeth and tried to convince my mom that I needed them removed IMMEDIATELY because they were that awful. At the time, I wasn't even feeling them, but apparently, they're not aligned in any sort of way that my mouth will be able to handle should they come through. 

Fast forward to this pregnancy, and I have a wisdom tooth trying to break through that's pretty much painful as heck. I read up about it, and even if I was comfortable with the idea of seeing a dentist about it while pregnant (which I'm not very thanks to the antibiotics and painkillers it looks like it would take), it looks like they can't do anything until you're in the second trimester anyway. Yikes. So, it looks like I might be just sucking it up and suffering through this hoping that it's just a flare up and will die down soon. 

Anyone else with teeth acting up in this pregnancy? Or experience with this sort of thing? I know about salt water gargling (GAG while sick with MS!) and keeping the area clean to prevent infection...toothpaste, mouthwash, etc... and I know that Ibuprofen is 'acceptable' in pregnancy although I'd like to avoid that as well for the time-being. 

If it gets worse, you might want to have it checked to make sure it's not infected.  When mine started to come in during my early 20s, the first one became infected and it had to come out.  If you go to the dentist to get it checked out, they also might be able to offer you other proactive measures to guard against infection.  Good luck!