I just found out I am pregnant and wonder if I should continue with my regular dental hygiene appointments or wait until after the baby is born?
During pregnancy certain hormones increase. This can cause an exaggerated response of the gums to plaque and calculus and produce what we refer to as pregnancy gingivitis. Symptoms of pregnancy gingivitis include red swollen gums that may be quite tender, an increase in bleeding from the gums, and/or benign tumours on the gums.
Toxins that are produced by the bacteria in plaque can enter the blood stream and trigger an increase in prostaglandin. This hormone causes the uterus to contract. Gum infections can also produce higher levels of tumour necrosis factor molecules another natural chemical that can trigger premature labour.
Several studies including a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology; say women with gum disease who have their teeth scaled can “dramatically reduce their risk of having a premature baby”. Prematurity is the leading cause of infant death and those that survive can be faced with a lifetime of serious disabilities.
For these reasons it is very important to have good oral hygiene and have your teeth scaled regularly throughout pregnancy to prevent or continue to treat gum disease.
