You Magazine – Don’t pass on gum disease

Mums – yes you can pass on tooth decay and gum disease to your children! We all know we should look after our teeth, but for pregnant women it’s especially important.

‘More than half suffer from dental problems, but they get little advice, even though they can seriously affect the health of the baby,’ says Dr Hap Gill, a private dentist in West London, who has launched a pregnancy advisory service.

‘Hormonal changes during pregnancy can significantly affect the health of teeth and gums, as well as stress, trauma, infection and vitamin deficiencies,’ he says. Eating well is vital, he emphasises, ‘and it’s worth considering a supplement to ensure good nutrient levels’.

Even women who have perfect oral health can suddenly have problems in pregnancy, says Dr Gill. ‘Two huge factors, often overlooked, are morning sickness and gastric reflux. Stomach acid can totally dismantle even a well-cared-for mouth.

‘It’s like giving your teeth an acid bath and can turn them from a rock-like consistency to chalk. Sugar cravings add to the problem.’ If you have prolonged morning sickness or reflux, his advice is to rinse out your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash (or water) straight after, and not to brush teeth for an hour. Pregnant women also have a high risk of tooth decay, so visit your dentist regularly.

Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) is very common. Gums become red and swollen, may bleed easily and feel sensitive or sore.

Pregnancy gingivitis usually starts around the second month and reaches its peak around the eighth.

As hormones start to fall in the ninth month, the inflammation usually subsides. But, if pregnancy gingivitis is neglected, it can lead to a chronic infection (periodontitis), which may result in premature birth, low birth weight and tooth loss in the mother.

It’s vital to brush teeth twice daily and be a champion flosser, says Dr Gill. ‘A pregnant woman often sees blood when she brushes ? an early sign of gum disease ? then she gets scared and stops. But blood is nature’s way of saying: ?clean here?. If you don’t brush, bacteria are left between your teeth, which can cause plaque and tartar.’

It’s important to see a hygienist regularly to remove deposits. Rinsing with warm salt water can help soothe inflamed tissues.

During pregnancy, actress Anna Friel suffered bleeding and warty sores on her gums between her teeth. ‘Doctors said it was fine, but a gum specialist told me to get them cut out ? so the infection didn’t get to the baby,’ she says.

Dr Gill believes Anna’s problem was pyogenic granulomas, which affect about one per cent of pregnant women, and are an exaggerated response by the immune system to plaque and tartar build-up between teeth.

Ulcers and blood blisters can also affect pregnant women, due to a range of causes including sharp foods or harsh brushing, which cause a tear in the salivary ducts of the gums. Blood and saliva can then leak into the gum and cause swelling. If any problem continues for more than two weeks, it is essential to see your dentist or doctor, says Dr Gill. Anyone who is near a baby or toddler should make sure their mouths are in good shape, he adds, as they can pass on the organisms that cause problems simply through vapour from breath, or by kissing.

The above article was printed in the Mail on Sunday’s You Magazine in August 2007.