The problem of gum disease during pregnancy

Although it may be considered one of the most exciting times in a woman's life, pregnancy comes with a laundry list of things to avoid and to be vigilant of. Recently topping those lists as a harbinger of premature births or stillbirths is gum disease — gingivitis and periodontal disease.

In 2008, an American university lecturer, Dr Yiping Han, reported that gum disease could lead to premature births or stillbirths by way of Fusobacterium nucleatum, a bacterium associated with the oral cavity. It has been suggested that the bacterium travels to the womb via the oral cavity, unlike most intrauterine infections, Dr Han said. One of the ways that the bacterium may spread is through the bloodstream by means of bleeding gums during teeth brushing.

Once in the bloodstream, F. nucleatum harms the foetus by targeting the placenta and the amniotic fluid. During pregnancy, a woman's immune system functions below standard capacity, making the foetus a vulnerable target that is especially susceptible to bacteria and infection.

According to the Journal of the American Dental Association, women who are already afflicted with gum disease have a seven percent greater chance of delivering preterm, low-weight babies. The journal also reported that women with severe gum disease had a greater chance of giving birth to premature babies. In other words, the likelihood of a premature birth increases dependent upon the severity of the mother's gum disease.

However, technological advances have made it much easier for early detection of gum disease and new treatments with positive results are being continuously being tested and implemented. The first step to ensuring that gum disease does not adversely affect your pregnancy is to prevent it.

Preventing Gum Disease

According to Bupa Health Services, gum disease affects more than half of all adults who have natural teeth. Gum disease, however, is entirely preventative and can be avoided long before a trip to the dentist is needed.

Gum disease first manifests itself in the form of gingivitis, a disease that occurs as a result of gums being irritated by plaque build up. Left untreated, gums with gingivitis appear red, swollen and shiny and are prone to bleeding. Gingivitis is entirely reversible and when treated properly, gums will recover.

However, untreated gingivitis leads to periodontitis, a disease where the gums begin to recede from the teeth, creating vacating pockets that trap plaque. These pockets cannot be reached by a toothbrush and overtime the plaque hardens, causing irritation. Over time periodontitis can lead to teeth falling out or being removed by a dentist.

Gingivitis can be avoided simply by regularly brushing and flossing your teeth.

Symptoms and Causes of Gum Disease

Gum disease is not normally plagued by a list of symptoms. Instead, most people with the disease are completely unaware they have it. For this reason, it is imperative to ensure you attend regular check-ups with your dentist and brush and floss properly.

Bleeding, red and swollen gums may be early signs of gingivitis and should be checked by a dentist.

Gum disease is caused by the build-up of plaque around the gums. This may be influenced by smoking, diabetes and the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and puberty.

Treatments for Gum Disease

There are a variety of treatments available to patients with gum disease including scaling, surgery and root planning.

Scaling treatments consist of a dentist cleaning your teeth with gritty toothpaste and an electric toothbrush and instruments called scalers. In addition to this treatment, your dentist may recommend the use of antiseptic mouthwash to prevent plaque from forming.

Gum surgery involves cutting into the gums for deep cleaning, usually by a periodontologist, a gum treatment specialist. After all the plaque has been removed from the gums, sutures or stitches are inserted.

Root planning consists of the same methods involved with scaling, except that it is done on a deeper scale nearer to the root of the tooth.