Pregnancy, periodontal disease and gum care – invisalign dentist
Pregnancy as we all know is a very special phase of any women’s life. Usually , people do care for their nutrition, exercise, diet, rest, prenatal check ups by gynaecologists etc. Some attend special prenatal courses too. But does anybody know, one of the very vital requirement during the pregnancy is dental check up – especially periodontal [gum] check up?
No. Very rarely people visit a invisalign dentist / periodontist for check up unless they have a dental problem during pregnancy. Do you know that a periodontal disease can make you more prone to premature labour and puts you at the risk of low birth weight babies and eventually sometimes death of the underweight babies?
What are periodontal [ gum ] diseases ?
Gum disease [ periodontal diseases] are the group of diseases that affect the periodontium. The periodontium supports the teeth and includes the structures that surround the teeth like gums, bone and the periodontal ligament.
Periodontal diseases are caused by the plaque and calculus formed on the tooth surface. These are commonly known as tartar. These plaque and calculus contain certain live bacteria that have the tendency to destroy all the structures of periodontium. Thus they make the gums infected and reach the underlying bone . They make the gums loose and start resorbing the bone. Finally , the teeth become loose and falls off.
These diseases are very silent, also called silent killers of gums and teeth. Sometimes they may give rise to small complaints like bleeding from gums while brushing, foul smell from mouth, sensitivity of the teeth from hot and cold food, food lodgment between teeth, movement of teeth from their original position etc. As, these complaints are very minor , they are very commonly neglected. Moreover, these kind of diseases run in phases. They have active and inactive phases. Thus, the complaints may occur for few days and then may disappear altogether.
As discussed earlier, periodontal diseases are caused by certain specific bacteria. These bacteria, apart from destroying the gums , are capable of entering into the blood stream and cause systemic infections like stroke, cardiac diseases, respiratory diseases and affects the pregnancy outcome.
Scientific studies have proven that the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease namely F. Nucleatum has been found in the amniotic fluids in the pre term babies.
It has been shown in various medical studies and have been published in various medical journals that these bacteria via blood enter the body and the amniotic fluid. Here they release the toxic substances called endotoxins that would irritate the amnionic sac [ where the featus stays ]. Thus irritated sac ruptures prematurely leading to the preterm labour, low birth weight babies and occasionally death of the baby.
Various long term studies have proved that there are 40 % chances of pregnancy complications in a patient with periodontal diseases.
As periodontal disease are very silent they may not show their signs very often, despite of the presence of the harmful bacteria. A very special oral care with a regular periodontal check up is mandatory for every pregnant female.
