Becoming a mum can significantly affect a woman’s body — with one woman is warning mothers-to-be to brace themselves after suffering a lesser-known pregnancy side effect.
Marissa Greene, 30, said when she became pregnant after trying to conceive for four years, it seemed like a miracle.
But soon after her daughter was born two years ago, she noticed her teeth rotting, the New York Post reports.
Greene shared several shocking images of her decaying enamel in a TikTok clip that has been viewed almost 6 million views in just over a week in the hopes of spreading awareness.
She called it the “most vulnerable time of my life” and debated whether or not to share her journey.
However she decided to post the video after deciding to not “let what others think” of her journey affect her, saying she wanted to just “live … and hopefully bring some encouragement to others in my boat”.
Pregnancy can lead to dental problems in some women, including gum disease and tooth decay.
During pregnancy, hormones affect gums and teeth, according to Better Health Victoria.
This can include the development of gingivitis, which affects as many as 70 per cent of women when expecting.
It can also increase risk of periodontal disease and pregnancy epulis – though the gum conditions often resolve after birth.
Vomiting, a common side-effect of pregnancy, can also damage teeth.
In Greene’s case, she said she struggled with morning sickness, claiming it caused her teeth to deteriorate to the point where it was painful to brush them.
As she was expecting during the pandemic, she was forced to wait to see a dentist until the condition was “too bad”.
It was after giving birth though that her gum health “went downhill,” she revealed.
“But I wouldn’t trade my smile for her any day,” she admitted of her precious toddler.
Greene also claimed she didn’t take enough calcium during the pregnancy because she is lactose intolerant.
Fellow mums expressed their gratitude for Greene’s vulnerability, calling her “beautiful,” while some even disclosed they suffer from the same condition.
“People don’t understand. Not only is there more acid from morning sickness, but calcium deficiency is REAL,” one user cautioned.
“Most people have no idea the toll a person’s body takes carrying a child. We risk so many health conditions to have our children,” another person chimed in.
“Congrats!!!! I just spent almost 4k getting my smile back!!!!” one new mum revealed.
“Thank you for posting this. I’m legit crying. I’m in the same boat and people are so mean,” another wrote in gratitude, along with the crying emoji.
“So happy for you!!! This happened to me, 4 kids killed my teeth!” someone else agreed.
“This is why I took calcium RELIGIOUSLY when I was pregnant,” another confessed.
Thankfully, the clip ends with Greene showing off new dentures after her pearly whites had begun to turn black.
But many were still shocked by the revelation, explaining they had “no idea” this could happen.
“I did not know this was a thing,” one said.
“That is wild, how did I not know this could happen?” another declared.
While gum and dental issues can be a risk of pregnancy, brushing, flossing, eating healthily, salt gargling, visiting a dentist regularly and limiting sugary foods can help prevent issues progressing.
This article originally appeared on The New York Post and was reproduced with permission