Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy

Periodontal disease is the inflammation of the gums, surrounding soft tissues, and the supporting bone of the teeth. This happens due to the bacterial build-up in the form of a sticky film on the teeth, called plaque. The bacteria reach the roots of the teeth and erode the base.

There are 4 phases in periodontal disease. If not treated sooner, the infection affects other parts of the body as well. 

What are the Causes of Periodontal Disease?

Out of the many reasons that cause periodontitis, poor oral hygiene leads to the formation of plaque which in turn creates a gap between the gums and the teeth, loosening them in the process. In extreme cases, an individual faces tooth loss. Women going through hormonal changes during pregnancy, patients suffering from AIDs, or diabetes are prone to the disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

• Frequent bleeding from gums even from minute touches
• Bad breath and a long-lasting bad taste in the mouth
• Increased gaps between teeth and shifting of teeth from their position
• An acute pain

Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy

• Pregnant women go through a change in hormonal balances that increases the plaque formation on the teeth. They also have a change in diet, which causes cavities in the teeth. The bacterial growth spreads beyond the gum line. Due to the increased vascular permeability of the microorganisms and their possibility to travel throughout the body, the bacteria seep into the blood vessels. 
• Owing to the high inflammatory properties of the microorganisms, the reproductive tract and the fetoplacental unit get infected. This results in maternal infection, which in turn causes placental insufficiency and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• A rise in blood pressure in the mother is noticed along with damage to vital organs like the liver and kidneys
• Baby is generally born before 37 weeks of pregnancy
• Intrauterine growth restrictions resulting in low weight babies
• Due to infection, the maternal immune system is activated, exposing it to these immune cells which impact the neural development of the fetus resulting in stillbirths.

Treatment of Periodontal disease

Your dentist tests for the causes and severeness of periodontitis. In the next session, you go through a professional cleaning session to deep clean the teeth and gums of bacterial deposits. After a few weeks, the dentist checks for bleeding gums and the depth of the gum pockets with the help of dental probes. If the depth is more than 3mm, bacteria from the roots is removed with the help of surgery.

Please reach out to Persimmon Dental Care in Dublin, CA, to have a consultation with our dentists. Please call us at (925) 999-8282 or schedule an online consultation, and we’ll guide you further.