Periodontal Diseases and Pregnancy

Not surprisingly, overall dental health including the concern for periodontal disease can have a direct impact on the health and vitality of an unborn baby. That is why it is so important to fully understand the relationship between periodontal disease and its impact on pregnancy. As most people know during pregnancy it is essential for women to maintain the best possible health as a way to benefit their baby. Experts in the field of dentistry have long recommended that pregnant women maintain the highest levels of periodontal health and wellness as a way to protect mom and baby's long-term health. Scientific research, clinical studies, and other reports have proven conclusively that periodontal disease can cause problematic pregnancies. Everything from low birth weight to pre-term birth and other undesirable conditions can result from a pregnant woman dealing with periodontal disease.

Redness or Tenderness Around The Gums and Teeth

What is periodontal disease? In short, it is a chronic inflammatory condition that is caused by bacteria resulting in gum tissue becoming a disease. In more severe cases periodontal disease can go much deeper and actually affect bone health. When the periodontal disease goes untreated, serious cases of gum disease develop ultimately resulting in tooth loss. More alarming is the fact that when the periodontal disease goes unaddressed long enough severe diseases such as heart disease and diabetes can ultimately result. Periodontal disease has various symptoms including swollen gums as well as redness or tenderness around the gums and teeth. There are other symptoms that also indicate periodontal disease may be present. This includes bleeding gums as a result of eating or brushing your teeth. Also indicative of periodontal disease is when gums pull away from the teeth or teeth become loose. Other studies and clinical research have also shown that pregnant women dealing with periodontal disease are more susceptible to delivering a baby with low birth weight or to giving birth prematurely [1].

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene and Dental Health

The statistics alone make it clear to see that pregnant women would be best served by paying particular attention to overall dental health leading up to and in all stages of pregnancy. One of the easiest ways to avoid periodontal disease is to simply maintain good oral hygiene and dental care. This includes routine brushing and flossing as well as seeing a dental care provider at regular intervals throughout the year and during pregnancy [2]. In many cases, a dental care provider can provide a detailed and comprehensive pregnancy-related dental evaluation by means of digital x-rays and other modern dental equipment [3]. This can help to greatly reduce the chances of experiencing complications during pregnancy as related to periodontal disease. Even something as simple as having routine regular dental cleanings throughout all stages of pregnancy can greatly improve the chances of having a healthy and event-free pregnancy. Maintaining good oral hygiene and dental health is great for the baby and for the mom. Contact your Walnut Creek dentist, Dr. Darvishzadeh at Walnut Creek Dental today to learn more about how to avoid periodontal disease during pregnancy.

References: [1] Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy [2] Understanding Teeth Whitening and Tooth Stains [3] Gum Diseases and Their Side Effects On Overall Health