Morning sickness is a condition mostly associated with expectant women. Even though morning sickness is mostly known to affect other parts of the body like joints, it also affects the teeth. The waves of vomiting and nausea will not cause discomfort but also constantly bring up stomach acids that can erode your teeth.
Effects of Morning Sickness on Your Teeth
In most cases, morning sickness hits its peak at around nine to 10 weeks. The condition starts improving after the 14-week mark. As much as the exact cause of morning sickness is not known, experts believe that it is due to the high levels of hormones circulating in the body.
Gastric acid or stomach acid is produced at high levels during certain stages of pregnancy. Stomach acids are highly acidic and have a pH level of below 3 — this is also similar to that of battery acids. In fact, stomach acid is highly corrosive to the extent that when you drop it on a piece of wood, it will eat right through it. This shows that when your teeth are exposed to stomach acids, they will be damaged.
Constant morning sickness will bring up stomach acids that could be harmful to your oral health. These acids dissolve the tooth enamel and leave them worn-out, sensitive, yellow, and pitted. Continued exposure to these acids will also lead to tooth decay and cavities. Most women snack on things throughout the day to try and keep sickness at bay. It might help reduce the damage, but it is still not a reliable way to treat it.
