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When women
become pregnant, they naturally think about calling
their obstetrician. But they should make a dental
appointment, too.
Here’s why:
Treatment
can be done before the baby comes. Dentists
recommend scheduling a dental check-up and cleaning
during the first trimester. It’s better to have dental
work completed within the fourth to sixth month of
pregnancy than to deal with potential complications from
anesthesia, medication, or extensive procedures during
the last trimester.
Pregnancy
can exacerbate gum disease. It’s common for pregnant
women to develop "pregnancy gingivitis." Gingivitis is
an inflammation of the gums and surrounding tissues. It
is characterized by redness, swelling, tenderness, and
bleeding. The primary cause of pregnancy gingivitis is
an increased level of hormones - especially estrogen and
progesterone -- which increase the inflammatory reaction
to dental plaque. This condition starts to become
evident in the second trimester. If you had gingivitis
before your pregnancy, it will probably worsen. Left
untreated, it could lead to bone loss around the teeth.
Also, pregnant women risk developing “pregnancy tumors,”
which are benign growths that arise out of swollen gums.
Normally, the treatment is to leave them alone until
they break on their own. However, if they interfere with
eating or oral hygiene, they may have to be surgically
removed.
Gum disease
is linked to some pregnancy complications. Emerging
evidence shows that periodontal disease may be a factor
for pre-term, low-birthweight babies.
How You
Can Prevent Pregnancy Gingivitis
- Take extra
care and time with good brushing and flossing
techniques to remove plaque.
- Make a
dental appointment and have your teeth cleaned during
the first or second trimester.
- Eat a good,
balanced diet, getting plenty of vitamins C and B12.
- If you
smoke, quit smoking for the entire pregnancy.
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