What does gum disease have to do with pregnancy?

Chronic gum disease can manifest in a more mild form called gingivitis, or a more acute form called periodontitis. Any type of gum disease can not only affect the mother or gestational carrier, but gingivitis and periodontal disease can also cause undesirable health effects for the developing baby. 

How can gingivitis affect me and my pregnancy?

Did you know that studies show from 60% to 75% of pregnant women have an early stage of periodontal disease called gingivitis? You may have gingivitis if you notice that your gums have become red and swollen from inflammation. If gingivitis is not treated, the bone that supports the teeth can be lost, and the gums can become infected. 

How can periodontal disease affect me and my pregnancy?

Untreated chronic gum disease can cause bone loss, a condition called periodontitis. Teeth with little bone support can become loose and may eventually have to be extracted. Periodontitis has also been associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight.

What are some other factors that can lead to dental decay during pregnancy?

Pregnant women may be at increased risk for dental decay, or cavities, due to changes in behaviors, such as eating habits and changes to self-care routines. Women with high amounts of cavity-causing bacteria in the oral cavity during pregnancy and after delivery could transmit these bacteria from their mouth to the baby's, increasing their likelihood to have similar dental issues as the parents or caregivers.

Dental Care Tips for Before, During, and After Pregnancy

Pre-Pregnancy Dental Care

For the individuals and couples who are planning ahead for pregnancy, there are proactive steps to help ensure that mommy and baby have a healthy gestation. If possibly, the mom-to-be should make a dental appointment before getting pregnant. We recommend a professional teeth cleaning to make sure your mouth is in its optimum condition, and a periodontal exam to check your gum tissue and look for signs of oral health issues. If you do have dental problems, it is considered safer to receive certain dental treatments when not pregnant, and we can guarantee that sitting in a dental chair for extended periods is more comfortable when not pregnant.

• CONTINUE ROUTINE DENTAL CARE  Routine dental care should continue during pregnancy! While our dentist can perform urgent procedures on a pregnant woman, we recommend that all elective procedures be postponed until after the delivery of the baby, and  after recovery of the mother or gestational carrier. Our office's conservative treatment approach dictates that we introduce the least amount of stress to the pregnant mother and child while we continue to provide the highest level of healthcare to you and baby.
• HOME ORAL HYGIENE  Keeping up with your personal oral hygiene practices, combined with professional dental care, is necessary to help prevent and reduce health problems for you and baby during your pregnancy and after birth-day. Because of the length of human gestation compared to normal recommendations for professional dental care, chances are that while pregnant you will be due for a professional dental cleaning, or prophylaxis. Dental cleanings are an extremely important part of maintaining one's oral health during pregnancy, so please plan accordingly and schedule ahead of time. Here are a few home oral care tips for pregnant women:
• Brush your teeth, gums, and tongue at least twice a day.
• Floss every day! Don't beat yourself up or give up if you miss a day - there's always tomorrow. We recommend flossing before bedtime because human beings' saliva production decreases while asleep, and saliva helps cleanse our mouths.
• Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse to complement, or in some severe cases of morning sickness, as we describe below, replace one or more other oral care methods.
• MORNING SICKNESS  If you are pregnant and the mere idea of putting a toothbrush in your mouth in the morning nauseates you to the brink of 'tossing your cookies', then you are not alone. About 70% of pregnant women report 'morning sickness' during pregnancy. However challenging it may be, you cannot let morning sickness derail your plans of optimum oral hygiene during pregnancy. If your nausea is preventing you from BWP (brushing while pregnant), our Gainesville dental team would like to offer a few suggestions to help you keep up with your home oral care:
• Toothpaste  Most toothpastes have strong flavors and smells. Since prenant women tend to have heightened sensitivity, you may have an averstion to strong smells and tastes during pregnancy. Instead of brushing with a strongly-flavored toothpaste, try substituting a bland-tasting toothpaste during pregnancy. Feel free to ask our dentists or hygienists if you would like them to recommend brands. 
• Mouthwash  Morning sickness and pregnancy nausea in general can cause occastional or frequent vomiting. If you find yourself with a strong aversion to all toothpaste and toothbrushing during pregnancy, there are other steps you can take for your oral care for those moments (or days or months) where you cannot make yourself put a toothbrush in your mouth. Thoroughly rinsing your mouth with a dentist-recommended mouth rinse can function as a temporary emergency substitute for tooth brushing. And if mouthwash overwhelmes your senses, rinsing even with just water can help clean your mouth and clear away food and bacteria to help prevent dental decay and gum problems during and after your pregnancy. 
• Prophylaxes  Keeping up with your professional dental care visits complements home hygiene and is an important component of maintaining overall dental health.
• PROFESSIONAL DENTAL CARE  Time flies when you are pregnant, and it's easy for mummy to neglect herself. But did you know that 40% of women develop gingivitis during their pregnancy? Please remember that by caring for yourself, you are also taking care of your baby and your family. Regular dental exams are still important because pregnancy causes hormonal changes that put a pregnant woman at increased risk for periodontal disease and tender gums that bleed easily, a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. If you already showed signs of gum disease before pregnancy, we often see the condition amplify while pregnant. 
  
• GUM DISEASE AND PREMATURE BIRTH  Our dentists and team in Gainesville, Florida, feel it worth reiterating that there exists strong scientific evidence of a link between periodontal disease and both premature births and low-birthweight babies. A scientific article, Periodontal infection and preterm birth, summarizes results of a study supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, and published in The Journal of the American Dental Association. This research found that, compared to mothers with healthy gums, pregnant women with chronic gum disease (periodontitis) are 4 to 7 times more likely to have underweight newborns and preterm delivery, defined as delivering before week 37. Mothers diagnosed with severe stages of periodontal disease delivered the most prematurely. 

• MEDICATIONS  Make a list of your medications as you receive them from your doctors, or as you take them throughout the week, because it's almost impossible to accurately recall this information when needed. And then be sure to tell your dentist and other doctors and healthcare providers the names and dosages of all drugs you are taking, including over-the-counter medications, supplements, prenatal vitamins, and pharmaceutical prescriptions.
• DOCTORS' RECOMMENDATIONS  In addition to communicating your medications to us, please also make sure to convey any specific medical advice your other doctors have given you, as our dentist may need to modify your dental treatment plan based on your other treating physicians' recommendations.
  
• X-RAYS  Dental radiographs, or x-rays, can be done safely during pregnancy. Our dentist and team use extreme caution and a conservative approach, putting you and your baby's safety first. Even though advances in x-ray technology have made radiographs exponentially safer today than in past decades, we prefer to take extra safety measures for pregnant women, such as shielding your abdomen and thyroid if we need to take x-rays, and not performing x-rays during the first trimester of pregnancy unless deemed medically necessary. 
• CHANGES  You know your body better than anyone else, so please be observant and communicative during your pregnancy. Pregnant women should pay special attention to changes in their gums. If you are pregnant and notice gum tissue tenderness, bleeding, or swelling at any time, please send us a message to let our dental team know so we can make sure your body keeps running at optimal health in preparation for the big day - baby's earthly debut - and beyond.

Baby's First Dental Visit