Dental Care During Pregnancy

If you are thinking of having a baby or if you are currently pregnant, it is important for you to be in excellent health, physically, mentally and emotionally. It is important that special attention be paid to your dental health and oral hygiene. If proper oral health care regime is not practiced it could have a negative impact on the mother to be and the unborn child.

During your pregnancy your body is going through many changes. Hormone levels change and this in turn makes your teeth and gums more vulnerable due to the build up of bacteria in the mouth. Other infections throughout the body other than the mouth may occur as a result of the bacteria.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MY BABY?

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology found that previously undiscovered bacteria usually found in the mouth could be responsible for up to 80 percent of early preterm labors. According to one author, “the earlier the woman goes into preterm labor, the higher the chance that she has infected gums.” A preterm birth, which is a birth before 37 weeks causes babies to face many hurtles including but not limited to vision and hearing loss, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, or even death. The oral systemic connection between the mouth and the rest of the body is becoming more and more important in preventing premature births.

WHAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP IN MY ORAL HEALTH?

Pregnancy Gingivitis: It is very common for an expectant mother to develop pregnancy gingivitis. It is caused by an over active response to bacteria and plaque by your body due to hormonal changes. Pregnancy Gingivitis can be easily managed if diagnosed and treated in its early stages. Symptoms: Red, swollen, tender, or bleeding gums. If you develop bad breathe you could be in the early stages of the disease. If you see pus along the gums, experience a change in your bite or if your teeth become loose, then it is imperative that you seek care. Gingivitis can be controlled if treated, however if left untreated, it will lead to periodontal disease and much more severe health care issues not only for the mother but the child as well.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE PERIODONTAL DISEASE?

One of the issues associated with periodontal disease is that it can be asymptomatic. This means that mother may have no symptoms at all but does have the disease. Periodontal or gum disease is considered an autoimmune disease. It is caused by bacteria in the mouth that attaches to the tooth structures. It is true that you have many types of bacteria in your mouth that are beneficial for your body; however there are many that are not. Bacteria consume the foods that we eat and produce a soft acid waste product known as plaque. Plaque destroys the gum attachment, and the result is a deeper space between where the gum is attached onto the tooth and the gum line. This is referred to as a periodontal pocket. Periodontal pockets create a cleaning problem, because it is hard to reach into these deep areas to clean. As the bacteria continue to multiply and produce more plaque, it causes inflammation in the gums. The body’s response to inflammation is to send white blood cells to the area. The white blood cells release enzymes whose job it is to destroy bacterial cells, but they are not selective n the cells that they destroy, and the end up destroying the bone that supports the teeth. When plaque stays on the tooth surface for several days, it starts to pick up the minerals in the saliva, which calcifies, and becomes known as tartar (calculus meaning little stones). The calculus is very rough and becomes firmly attached to the teeth, which becomes bacteria traps. Since the bacteria can hide in the microscopic nooks and crannies of the calculus it makes it even harder to keep clean because calculus can only be removed during a dental visit. This will cause infection of the gums, bone, and enter into the bloodstream if not treated.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Brush and floss 3 times daily, or after each meal
Maintain a healthy diet that includes calcium, B12 and vitamin C. These minerals and vitamins are for strong teeth and gums.
It is imperative that you seek your dental health professional and maintain a regular schedule
It is a myth that the baby will take calcium out of your teeth. Most of the time, tooth damage during pregnancy is due to incomplete oral hygiene care, extended or prolonged morning sickness, food fetishes, and decayed teeth prior to pregnancy
Prevention of oral health problems is a much easier and less expensive than a dental crisis

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