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Brushing Up on Oral Healthcare
During Pregnancy
Now that you are
pregnant it’s important to take even better care of your teeth and
gums. Proper oral healthcare is key not only for your own health,
but for the health of your developing baby.
Gingivitis
and Gum Disease:
About one-half
of women experience “pregnancy gingivitis”. Higher progesterone
levels during pregnancy cause a greater reaction to dental plaque,
resulting in an increased amount of swelling, bleeding and redness
of the gums. It is therefore extremely important to remove any
plaque build-up from your teeth. If left untreated, gingivitis can
turn into periodontitis or gum disease. This is a more serious
condition in which the infection goes beyond your gums and into the
bone and other tissue that support your teeth. This is of
particular importance for pregnant women as research suggests a link
between gum disease and premature, low birth weight babies. The
bacteria that cause gum infection can enter the gum tissues and then
travel via your blood stream to sites far from the mouth, even to
the uterus. These bacteria carry substances that can trigger the
production of chemicals called “prostaglandins” in the reproductive
tract. These prostaglandins are suspected to induce premature
labour, resulting in low birth weight babies.
What You
Should Do During Pregnancy:
Prevention is
the key. Practice good oral hygiene at home and get regular,
preventive dental care:
- Brush at
least twice every day and after every meal if possible.
- Floss daily.
- Get regular
dental care. If you have not seen your dentist recently,
schedule a visit for a thorough cleaning and check-up. Your
dentist or hygienist may want to see you more than once during
your pregnancy and perhaps even more so if you already have gum
disease.
- Cavity
fillings and crowns should be treated to reduce the chance of
infection. As there are conflicting studies regarding the
effects of medications for anesthesia during pregnancy it is
best to have this dental work done after the first trimester and
using as little anesthesia as possible, but enough to make you
comfortable. If antibiotics are necessary, there are safe ones
to choose from.
- After the 2nd
trimester, postpone all non-emergency work until after the birth
as lying on your back for extended periods of time should be
avoided.
- Avoid
routine X-rays until after the birth.
- Whiten your
teeth later. There is no clear data and no studies on the
safety of whitening treatments during pregnancy.
- Share with
your dental professionals:
- How far
along are you?
- Is yours
a high-risk pregnancy?
- What is
your current home care routine?
- Have you
noticed any changes in your oral health?
- Are you
taking any medications?
- Have you
noticed any gum inflammation, swelling, redness or bleeding?
- Have you
noticed any loose teeth or persistent bad breath?
- Schedule an
appointment immediately if you have a toothache, if your gums
are bleeding frequently and causing you pain or if you notice
any other signs of gum disease.
The Georgia
Dental Group’s philosophy is that a healthy mouth is fundamental to
one’s overall health and well-being. We are passionate about oral
healthcare and provide extraordinary care and individual attention.
We are always
happy to accept new patients.
Our office is
located 530 – 1090 West Georgia Street in Vancouver.
Please visit us
on the web at
www.georgiadental.ca or call us at 604-684-7745 to schedule an
appointment.
Compiled
using information from the following sources:
Sonicare and The Journal of Periodontology, The Canadian Dental
Association, The American Academy of Periodontology.
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