Pregnancy is a journey into the unknown because each pregnancy comes with its own terms and conditions. Oftentimes, it comes bearing unpleasant changes we may have to endure but fast forward to the moment we hold our precious little ones in our arms, we smile and say “it was all worth it” and Alicia would say the same.
Alicia is a 36-year-old mom of four who had to get snap-in dentures at the age of 34 after losing all her teeth during the course of four pregnancies. In her tell-all Youtube video, she revealed how she met her husband when she was 18, got married at 20 with perfect teeth, got pregnant, and had her first baby at 21.
It is common knowledge that the pregnancy and postpartum experiences are different for every woman and with every baby. Alicia’s case is the rare kind of different; one day for no apparent reason, her eyetooth (canine tooth) fell out and the very next day, the second eyetooth broke at the gum line while she was having a McDonald’s hamburger! This incident was the compelling force that drove her to get her first partial.
She had noticed during her pregnancy that her teeth became yellow and after she got tested, the results showed that she was low on iron and other nutrients. She had suffered an extreme loss of calcium making her teeth become hollow and brittle on the inside and randomly falling out. Having left home at the age of 18 which for Alicia meant having to fend for herself when she was barely a child, she described that period as her ‘prime’ where she didn’t think she ate properly or was healthy and believed it may have made it all worse.
In Alicia’s case, there’s also the role of genetics as Alicia’s grandma got dentures at 20 after having her first child which made it highly likely for her to experience the same.
Similar to a lot of first-time mothers, it came as a shock to Alicia to learn that a poor diet can greatly affect the teeth during her pregnancy.
Alicia’s second baby came in her 24th year and that was the same year she resolved to do everything in her power to save her teeth. This was when the weekly trips to the dentist began. A year and $10,000 later, she had her teeth root canaled and crowned. Her teeth were finally okay or so she thought…
Four years later at 28, baby number three made an entrance followed closely by baby number four at 30. 4 kids in nine years, she was finally done with childbearing. At this time, she had begun to have some problems with her teeth again but ignored them this time. She said “figuring out my health problems were not my priority. I was focused on caring for my baby and three other children.” That sentence in itself describes motherhood as a lot of us see it – putting your family above yourself and health.
Having a phobia of dentists didn’t help Alicia’s case either which led her to delayed treatment and waiting too long on so many occasions. This unfortunately worsened her teeth. After undergoing treatments and spending a lot of money, she eventually found her dream dentist. He offered to do her implants and snap-in dentures at the same time. This summed up to $17,200.
Alicia is bravely sharing her story with the world to help people going through the same struggles.
Can you lose your teeth during pregnancy?
The answer is yes especially if there’s already a pre-existing condition. Calcium loss can occur during pregnancy as a result of an increased need for calcium by the baby. Hormonal and behavioral changes like poor dental hygiene during pregnancy can also make your gums more vulnerable to plaque which can lead to inflammation and bleeding. Doctors also advise eating a healthy and balanced diet.
How can you care for your teeth during pregnancy?
- Floss daily to prevent plaque build-up
- Use alcohol-free mouthwash
- Brush your teeth with a flouride toothpaste twice a day
- Rinse your mouth with a teaspoon of salt added to a cup of warm water daily to reduce gum inflammation
- Quit smoking
- Avoid taking sugary drinks and food too often
Alicia is currently on a five-year payment plan of $400 a month to cover the payment for her implants and snap-in dentures. She has a beautiful smile and is on the social media streets as @princxssglitterhead bravely sharing her story and inspiring women who have a similar story.
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