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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Know the Health Risks of Periodontal Disease During Pregnancy

Pregnant women should be more careful to maintain their dental health. Otherwise, it affects the health of the child as well as the mother. It has been found that periodontal diseases (infection of gums) is more common among pregnant women as their gum tissues are softened by the pregnancy hormones. As a result, they are more prone to bacterial infections.

Gum diseases among pregnant women have lot of effects on the children. As per the American Academy of Periodontology, periodontal disease during pregnancy includes seven times more chances of premature delivery. The babies born will be premature and underweight. The gums are vascular and any bacterial infection in the gum of the mother can enter the circulatory system. Through this system, the fetus get infected leading to the failure to thrive. As a result, the baby is born much early with a weight below the normal range. Also, the baby delivered by a pregnant women with periodontal disease is stillborn. According to the American Dental Association, it has been said that a bacterial species called Fusobacterium nucleatum causing gum disease travels through the mother's blood vessels to the uterus. The fetus swallows and even inhales the amniotic fluid and hence, the infection enters the fetus also. This leads to the death of the fetus and stillbirth.

The onset of periodontal disease during pregnancy even causes several health effects in the mother. It increases the chances of problems related to tooth loss, respiratory problems, stroke and diabetes. In order to avoid these health risks, good oral hygiene including brushing and flossing daily should be followed. Also, regular visits to dentist should be scheduled for dental cleaning.


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