Albertville, AL
By now, you have repeatedly been told by your dentist how important oral hygiene is for your teeth but what about the impact it has on the rest of your body? For women of childbearing age, oral health is of utmost importance, not just for you but for your baby too. More than half of American adults experience some form of periodontal (gum) disease. Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque on the teeth. If this plaque is not removed periodontal disease will begin to affect your gums. The disease begins as gingivitis, which causes gums to bleed, and become puffy and tender. If left untreated, gingivitis leads to infections under the gum line.
Signs of gum disease include tender, swollen, and bleeding gums, bad breath, receding gums, and eventually leads to loose teeth and tooth loss. This disease goes far beyond the state of your oral health. Here is how this disease of the mouth affects your body.
For starters, research has proven that women who suffer from gum disease take longer to conceive than those women without gum disease. Once a woman becomes pregnant, her oral health becomes even more important. During pregnancy, a woman’s hormones fluctuate, which affects how her gums react to bacteria that cause plaque buildup. Many pregnant women experience early signs of periodontal disease, referred to as gingivitis, which involves inflamed and bleeding gums. The bacteria that cause gingivitis can travel into your uterus via your bloodstream causing the release of prostaglandins, which is known to induce premature labor.
Even with your best efforts, you simply cannot remove plaque buildup on your own. The only method to remove all plaque from your teeth is by a professional dental cleaning, which helps prevent periodontal disease. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, consider a thorough dental exam and cleaning. During pregnancy, the dentist may recommend more dental checkups and cleanings than usual.
For your next visit, contact us at Wall Street Dentistry. We welcome patients of Albertville, Alabama.