39 Weeks Pregnant, Teeth or Roots of Teeth Killing Me. Normal?

Updated on January 04, 2011
L.U. asks from Kirkland, WA
19 answers

So, in the morning when I wake up my teeth are killing me. If I bite or eat anything they seem to be really sore. It's not the top part of the teeth (so not cavities or any dental work that is needed) it's almost like it's my roots or jaw. I know that you are supposed to go to the dentist, especially when you are prego, and I went about two months ago and got one cavity filled and everything else looked fine.
Anyone else ever experienced sore jaw or sensitive teeth in their pregnancy? DId it go away after you had the baby?

Thanks!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

OH MY GOODNESS!!! This exact same thing happened to me and I wondered if it was pregnancy!! It got better after I had the baby but it was still there. Now that my baby is 8 months old, I just noticed that it's almost completely GONE!! Yay!! Hang in there!! It does go away. =)

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.L.

answers from Houston on

Are your sinuses going nuts? Your jaw/teeth everything is connected back to the ears, head, etc. with your sinuses. Our sinuses usually go nuts with pregnancy, and your teeth, jaw will be more sensitive with sinus issues. Just a thought. My "teeth" always bother me with sinus issues now after pregnancy. So bad sometimes that it hurts to eat!

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.I.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Yes its happened to me on my 2 pregnancies, start around 6 or 7 months and gets worse with the pregnancy getting to the end but after the baby is born I'm not sure if just stop by itself or I just don't put any more attention to my teeths .....
Try a sensitive dental paste maybe that will help you...

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.K.

answers from Kansas City on

I had throbbing pain and trouble chewing. I swore up and down I had a cavity and made an emergency dental appt. He took xrays, came in and told me I had a raging sinus infection. It hurt to touch my cheekbones and was most sensitive just after waking up and would throb when I tried to go to sleep.

3 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

It really sounds like you are clenching your teeth when you sleep. And because sleep gets kinda crazy while pregnant...mostly at the end you may have just started doing this. When people clench they wake with sore, sensitive teeth and a sore jaw. Like when you wake does it hurt to bite down? If so it's due to clenching. You can get a mouth guard made from your dentist or you can even buy them at the store. They are usually by the tooth brushes or sometimes by the sports med. stuff.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.E.

answers from Las Vegas on

If your not taking your viamins the baby could be pulling from you and one of the first things that get weaker are teeth...use sensodyne. See if that helps.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.B.

answers from Miami on

Oh my gosh, so normal. I am 22 weeks pregnant with baby #4 and each pregnancy brought bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, and yes, some tooth pain when I bite. So annoying! The BEST advice I can offer is to make sure you are brushing as often as possible, floss daily, and I use Listerine mouth wash (Vanilla mint flavor ~ it's very refreshing and not as strong as some of the other listerines). I have also increased my calcium intake, in addition to my prenatal vitamins. My OB says it's fine for me to take more calcium. IF you plan to breastfeed, most definitely increase your calcium intake.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.G.

answers from Seattle on

You are probably grinding or clenching your teeth more than normal which is completely normal during pregnancy. You can get a mouth guard at the drug or grocery store that will help alleviate the pressure and protect your teeth. Hopefully it will go away after pregnancy, if it doesn't you may want to get a more permanent mouth guard from your dentist.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Go to the dentist. You can still have a tooth root abscess, resorptive lesion or other dental problems even though you're pregnant. Many dental problems have very diffuse or non-localized pain that can feel like the tooth roots or your jaw.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Dayton on

It could be sinus pressure too. Or clenching your teeth at night. Both of these were worse for me pregnant and caused the pain you are talking about.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.R.

answers from Seattle on

Maybe you are grinding or clenching while you sleep?

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from Portland on

When I was in my first trimester, I had really bad jaw pain. As if I'd clenched my jaw for three years straight and now it was sore. It was horrible. I mentioned it to my nurse/doc and she said that it is common to get aches, but the jaw was a new one to her.

It lasted about 6 weeks, I think. Maybe 8? But after that I never again had a problem with it. I do notice, tho, that if I clench my jaw and am really tense, it'll come back, but only for a day or two, usually. Not nearly as long as when I was first pregnant.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.J.

answers from Seattle on

OMG... I thought I was the only one! I felt like my teeth were going to fall out half my pregnancy. I amused the heck outta my ob/gyn/midwife with fears of scurvy. I quite literally sucked on limes.

Really... it's that I'm allergic to Seattle. Being here ticks my sinuses off (I have an almost constant sinus infection). Being preggers I wasn't taking decongestants so it was getting bad enough to make my teeth feel loose/ painful.

As soon as I could take meds periodically, my teeth were fine.

BUT that's just MY experience. I'd get checked out... since an infection in your jaw can be life threatening.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

Yep! And it's completely normal. I would have sore gums/roots during my period, and I mentioned it to my dentist once. She laughed and said, "Just wait until you're pregnant!" The hormones in your body cause the sensitivity and discomfort. In addition, the hormones cause you to produce more plaque, so make sure that you are brushing and flossing even more regularly than normal.

In addition, allergies can get worse during pregnancy. I know mine do! So you also might have a sinus infection. You could see your doctor to get it checked out. If the problem is hormones, it will take care of itself soon after the birth of your child. If it's a sinus infection, you'll probably need antibiotics. Congrats on your new baby!

1 mom found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

You can develop all sorts of weird things when you are pregnant, lol. I had a numb area in the front of my ear (below the temple and above the jaw joint-- JUST right in front of the ear opening itself). It would drive me crazy. Because part of it was numb, the area right around the numb area would itch. It appeared a few months into my pregnancy, then went away after delivery. I had the same thing with a 2nd pregnancy. It went away also.

I had really really bad carpal tunnel with the first pregnancy (I couldn't grip a hairbrush or tooth brush for my teeth for half an hour after I got up in the mornings). I don't recall it being as severe with the 2nd pregnancy, but I was really careful not to put my hands under the pillow when I slept the 2nd time around.

I didn't have any weird stuff happen with my teeth/jaw during my pregnancies. But AFTER them I had some funky pains that went away over time without any treatment. It was almost like the swelling and extra blood in my body during pregnancy applied some pressure to areas and then when that pressure let up, there was extra space that exposed nerves or something. Over time things went back to normal.

I'd ask your doctor about it and see what they say. It might be a side effect they hear about often. Or it could be a symptom of something to watch. Or it could simply be what another poster mentioned : are you clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth during your sleep?

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.F.

answers from Portland on

I'm just surprised the gum and tooth pain waited until your 39th week! In my first trimester I had a week straight of swollen, tender and bleeding gums. Just when I was beginning to get worried and call my dentist I woke up one morning and it had magically disappeared! So weird. Of course, all my mama friends hadn't experienced anything like that so everyone I asked was like, "Wha...?" which didn't make me feel better! I made sure to brush after eating anything and I also used Jason brand mouthwash and put a few drops of neem oil in with it when washing out my mouth. It tastes like hell, but I feel like the neem oil helped shorten the duration...but, I'm no doctor; I was using it in very small quantities and for a very short amount of time. Good luck with your birthing!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Anchorage on

I had the same problem, as if I had been clenching my mouth shut all night. One night as i was falling asleep i just started clenching my teeth without thinking about it and sometimes when i was sitting and resting i would start to do it. But after i had my daughter I didnt do it anymore...weird. Never did it with my first two though. Maybe you are clenching or grinding them in your sleep? Sometimes i felt like i should put my finger between my teeth so if i started to clench it would hurt and make me stop lol.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.I.

answers from Portland on

Have you tried calcium. Your body needs a lot of extra calcium because the baby is taking a lot. The the baby will "steal" what it needs if you are not getting enough. Since your teeth are made up of calcium as one component you might consider getting a calcium product. Make sure you get a good quality calcium product one with magnesium, vita D3, boron and zinc in it because that helps the body accept and use the calcium. Also, if you do buy a product make sure you buy one that dissolves in water within 20 to 30 minutes because otherwise you do not utilize something that is not broken down in your stomach/system.

N.
Health and Wellness Coach

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Maybe you are clenching your teeth at night. I have this problem and now have to use a mouth guard.. I paid a fortune for one from the dentist, but you can purchase them at the drug store..

Does your husband notice you grinding your teeth at night?

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions