Health Risks of Periodontal Disease During Pregnancy
Now that you're pregnant, you eat well, exercise and go to regular prenatal visits, but do you take care of your teeth? If not, you'd better start brushing and flossing those pearly whites today. Failure to keep up your oral health while you're expecting can result in a range of health risks resulting from periodontal disease during pregnancy.
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The Facts
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In order to best understand the health risks of periodontal disease during pregnancy, you should first have a basic understanding of this oral disease. Periodontal disease occurs when the tissues supporting your teeth become infected. According to the American Dental Association, periodontal diseases cause infection in a small crevice between your teeth and gums (the sulcus), which results in the destruction of the gum tissue in that area of your mouth. As this tissue becomes destroyed, a pocket forms that can increase drastically in size and potentially cause serious problems for you and your unborn baby if left untreated.
Types
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Two types of periodontal disease could occur that may result in health risks during pregnancy: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis, a more mild form of periodontal disease, occurs when plaque hardens into tartar beneath your gum line; this tartar creates a location for bacteria to build up along your gingiva (the area of your gums located at the base of your teeth), which leads to gum irritation, swelling and bleeding. Periodontitis, a more severe form of periodontal disease, occurs when gingivitis is left untreated; inflammation creates deep reservoirs between your gums and teeth for tartar, bacteria and plaque, causing infections that ultimately eat away at your gums and teeth.
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Pregnancy Health Risks
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The health risks of periodontal disease during pregnancy vary depending upon the severity of the periodontal disease that you have. If you develop periodontitis during pregnancy, you are more likely to deliver prematurely (before week 37 of your pregnancy) and your baby is more likely to have low birth weight (birth weight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces). In fact, according to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), you are seven times more likely to deliver prematurely if you have periodontal disease during pregnancy, and your risks increase if your periodontal disease gets worse during pregnancy.
Overall Health Risks
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In addition to increasing your chances of developing pregnancy-specific health risks, periodontal disease during pregnancy also increases your chances of developing other serious health risks that can affect the health of your pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic states that in addition to tooth loss, you may also experience respiratory problems, stroke, problems controlling diabetes, and coronary artery disease (occurs when plaque build-up narrows the arteries that provide oxygen and blood flow to your heart). All of these conditions may affect your body's ability to carry your pregnancy to term, as well as the health of your unborn baby, who depends on your body for nutrients and oxygen.
Risk Factors
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Certain factors increase your chances of succumbing to the health risks of periodontal disease during pregnancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, hormonal changes that occur naturally during pregnancy increase your risk of developing periodontal disease. In addition, once you develop gingivitis, you are more likely to develop periodontitis, which is the gum condition responsible for these more serious health risks. Other risk factors include failing to follow good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing daily, as well as scheduling regular cleanings with your dentist) and using tobacco.
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