Pregnant. Having Gingivitis. Will It Affect The Foetus?
PRETERM DELIVERY AND TOOTH DECAY CAN OCCUR.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us.
Gingivitis and their toxic products of pregnant women always have greater risk of Preterm Delivery, Low Birth Weight Baby and Dental caries or tooth decay (if untreated) of new born baby.
Underlying mechanism could be excessive bacteria, causing gingivitis, can enter the bloodstream through mouth or gums. Herein, the bacteria can travel to the uterus, triggering the production of prostaglandins which leads to above feature.
Therefore, it is better to treat during pregnancy period as early as possible. 2nd trimester is most vulnerable for gingivitis and proper treatment is to be made as per clinical symptoms.
TREATMENT : Good oral health care is most important during pregnancy. Regular dental cleaning and check ups are must to avoid oral infections that can affect the fetus, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease.
2nd trimester is the best time for treatment to minimize dental infection. You must consult with DENTIST for proper guidance regarding this. Safe antibiotic like ampicillin or amoxicillin - clavulunate can be given. Regular mouth wash with CHLORHEXIDINE (anti-plaque fluoride based) is mandatory for maintaining oral & dental hygiene.
PREVENTION : 1) Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily after meals when possible.
2) During morning sickness or vomiting, you must rinse your mouth with water, brush without toothpaste and after that anti-plaque fluoride mouthwash.
3) Take well-balanced diet with plenty of vitamin C and B12. Drink more water or juice for better circulation.
Hope, I have clarified all things and guided you properly. Let me know if you need any clarification.
Wish your good health and take care yourself.
Regards,
Dr Soumen
For future query, you can directly approach me through
WWW.WWWW.WW