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Baby your oral health during
pregnancy
While it may be the time to keep
your feet up, pregnancy is not the time relax your brushing and flossing
routine. That's because expectant mothers often experience increased
gingivitis or pregnancy gingivitis beginning in the second or third month
of pregnancy that increases in severity throughout the eighth month. The
increase in estrogen and progesterone levels during this time causes the
gums to react differently to the bacteria in plaque and may result in
swelling, bleeding or redness or tenderness in the gum tissue. About
half of women experience pregnancy gingivitis.
However, women with no gingivitis prior to pregnancy are unlikely
to experience pregnancy gingivitis. As many people are unaware of the
status of their periodontal health, a visit to a dentist or periodontist
for a periodontal evaluation before getting pregnant is a good idea. In
some cases, gums swollen by pregnancy gingivitis can react strongly to the
bacteria in plaque and form large lumps. These growths, called pregnancy
tumors, are not cancerous and are generally painless. They usually
disappear after pregnancy, but if the tumor persists, it may require
removal by a periodontist. While
alterations in psychology and behavior during pregnancy tend to make some
women pay less attention to personal care, women should actually make an
effort to pay increased attention to oral hygiene during pregnancy to help
minimize the effects of hormonal changes in the mouth.
Good
oral health is vital during pregnancy. Therefore, continue with your
regular dental cleanings and checkups to avoid periodontal infection. Women
who use oral contraceptives may be susceptible to the same oral health
conditions that affect pregnant women. They may experience red, bleeding
and swollen gums. And, women who use oral contraceptives should know that
taking drugs sometimes used to help treat periodontal disease, such as
antibiotics, may lessen the effect of an oral contraceptive. Always tell
your dental professionals about any prescriptions that you are taking.
And
remember, good oral care benefits you, as well as your unborn baby. Healthy mouths, healthy babiesStudies
have shown a relationship between periodontal disease and pre-term, low
birth weight babies. Any infection, including periodontal infection, is
cause for concern during pregnancy. In fact, pregnant women who have
periodontal disease may be seven times more likely to have a baby that is
born too early and too small! The likely culprit is a labor-inducing
chemical found in dental plaque called prostaglandin. Very high levels of
prostaglandin are found in women with severe cases of periodontal disease. A
study published in a 1999 issue of the Journal of Periodontology reports
that at least 23 percent of women ages 30 to 54 have periodontitis (an
advanced state of periodontal disease). Yet, many people are unaware they
have periodontal disease because it often progresses silently.
According to recent research, the more of the mouth affected with
periodontal disease, the more likely a woman is to deliver a premature
baby. However, women with only a couple of sites in their mouths affected
by periodontal disease are not off the hook, While the study showed there
is a definite dose response, the trend for pre-term deliveries was
observed in women with as little as two sites with attachment loss (a
measure of periodontal disease). Research is underway to determine what happens when periodontal disease is treated in pregnant women. For now, the best advice continues to be that women considering pregnancy have a periodontal screening and get any problems with their oral health under control before becoming pregnant. However, women who are already pregnant should not shy away from dental care. The second trimester is the best time to have dental procedures performed to minimize any potential risk. American
Academy of Periodontology Patient Page - Nov/Dec, 2000, Vol. 1, No. 4 |