Why Healthy Teeth Lead to Healthy Pregnancies

By Glenn Schmidt | Published on December 22, 2011 | 0 Comments

Women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant in the future need to take their oral health into consideration, since a number of oral conditions including periodontal disease  that can negatively impact pregnant women and their babies. According to Dr. Glenn Schmidt, a New Orleans dentist who practices at Riverbend Dental Center, pregnant women go through a number of hormonal changes that can affect their oral health.

Specifically, Dr. Schmidt says the No. 1 concern that he has when it comes to working with pregnant patients is that their gums may become inflamed. The hormonal changes that these patients go through over the course of nine months can have a negative impact on their gum health, and women who are not careful could end up with gums that bleed each time they brush or floss their teeth.

With this information in mind, Dr. Schmidt recommends that all of his female patients who are pregnant or will become pregnant in the future come into his office for regular dental cleanings and exams. As a dentist in New Orleans, he says this is especially important during the second trimester, when hormonal fluctuations can be at their worst. Despite what some people may think, getting a professional teeth cleaning can make a real difference in the lives of women who are pregnant.

For one thing, having healthy teeth and gums can make women less likely to suffer from certain complications, such as pregnancy diabetes. Pregnancy diabetes is closely related to poor oral health and certain periodontal conditions. As a dentist in New Orleans, Dr. Schmidt says the health of a woman’s gums is extremely important, and pregnancy hormones can wreak havoc on gum health. Women with moderate to severe gum disease are at a substantially higher risk for certain prenatal conditions, the most well known of which is low birth weight babies.

Babies born to mothers who suffered from periodontal disease or gum disease during their pregnancies are more likely to be born with low birth weights. Dr. Schmidt explains that this is an issue because low birth weight babies don’t develop as well, and many studies have shown that they have less intelligence initially. A myriad of complications can arise when women do not take care of their periodontal health during pregnancy, which is why it is important for pregnant women to get their teeth professional cleaned by a licensed hygienist and to get checked out for gum disease by a dentist in New Orleans.

*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

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