San Marcos Gentle Dental Blog

Thinking about your baby and prenatal care is normal during pregnancy; however, thinking about your oral health and dental care may not be forefront on your mind, but dentistry is still very important.  Women need to pay special attention to their teeth and gums especially during pregnancy to avoid the increased risk of dental problems.

Your Changing Body and Changing Dental Care Needs During Pregnancy:

Pregnancy brings a change in oral health and hormones, especially increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are linked to plaque buildup on teeth.  Plaque that is not removed can cause gingivitis and swollen gums that are tender and prone to bleed.  Most pregnant women experience gingivitis to some degree, but it doesn’t ususally surface until the second trimester.

If you had gingivitis before becoming pregnant, your condition will likely be aggravated; untreated gingivitis can lead to a more serious problem–periodontal disease.  Swollen gums that become irritated can also lead to pregnancy tumors, benign growths that will usually shrink and disappear without treatment.  However, if the tumor causes discomfort or interferes with chewing or brushing, the dentist may suggest removing it.

Special Preventive Dental Care Tips for Pregnant Women:

*Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and after each meal, if possible.

*If brushing your teeth causes morning sickness, rinse with anti-plaque and fluoride mouthwashes or water.

*Pay close attention to your gum line and keep it clean.

*Floss daily.

*Focus on nutrition, including plenty of vitamins C and B12.

*Visit your dentist for a check-up and cleaning in both your first and second trimesters to control plaque and maintain good oral health.

Handling Dental Care Emergencies During Pregnancy:

If you experience dental emergencies causing pain, you can be treated at any time; however, consult your doctor if anesthesia is required or a medication is prescribed to you.  Avoid x-rays during pregnancy, unless they are critical to emergency treatment.

It is recommended to schedule elective procedures after your baby’s birth.  While your’re expecting, have great expectations for maintaining good oral health.  By doing so, you’ll keep your beautiful smile and share it with your baby!

More men still get oral cancer than women, but women are catching up.  Smoking cessation has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages, yet according to some research it appears that men and women may need different strategies to quit.

When men quit smoking, the most prominent symptom of withdrawal is biological craving, so just time or use of the patch or other weaning methods can be helpful.  Some women are more likely to use cigarettes to manage moods, deal with stress, and control weight.  A successful cessation program needs to incorporate these social motivators.

Quitting smoking or giving up smokeless tobacco is really worth the effort.  You can reduce your risk of oral cancer, cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss, as well as lung and heart diseases.

Soon cardiologists may routinely examine patients’ mouths just as dentists ask about heart health.  This is the outcome of recommendations made jointly by leaders in both periodontal dentistry and cardiology in a consensus paper on the relationship between heart disease and gum disease.  These professionals believe that managing one disease may reduce your risk of the other. 

Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in North America, may be linked to progressive gum disease, also a chronic inflammatory disease, which affects a large percentage of adults.  Untreated, gum disease will eventually destroy supporting jawbone and ligaments, and it’s the major cause of adult tooth loss.  In addition to cardiovascular diseases, it may affect conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, complications of pregnancy, respiratory diseases, cancers, and diabetes which is considered an epidemic.

Diabetes raises more fascinating questions about how oral and overall bodily processes may interact with one another.  Diabetics are more likely to have gum disease than most people, and gum disease makes it more difficult to control their blood-sugar levels.  Gum disease can lead to tooth loss which some research suggests may lead to hearing loss, which is about twice as prevalent among diabetics as the general population.

Not all the answers are in, but time is on your side.  Research can lead to solutions…and most forms of gum disease progress slowly.  With regular checkups, and good home care, dentistry can help maintain your oral health-and overall health.

Now is a great time to get your entire family thinking of ways they can contribute to improving our environment.  It’s easy and rewarding to build an eco-friendly plan for you and your family.  These ideas can give you some basic ideas you can implement right now and help your kids learn their actions can make a difference now and into the future. 

*Leave the water turned off while you brush your teeth.  This simple step can save up to four gallons of water a minute.  That means that a family of four can save up to 200 gallons of water a week by implementing this simple step.

*Turn off lights when you leave rooms and ensure everything is turned off when you leave for the day.

*Make it a house rule that televisions, computers, DVD players, and game consoles be unplugged before you go to bed, because these days the off button for these items is not really off but a type of standby.  This means they’ll be using energy even when they are turned off unless they are unplugged.  This can add up to a savings of over $200 annually simply by ensuring you unplug these electronic devices.

*Set up a permanent recycling bin in your home or garage and use it everyday.  It takes 90% less energy to recycle an aluminum can than to make new ones, so think of all the benefits that recycling has.

*Walk, ride your bike, or carpool in order to conserve gas and save money.

*Bring your own bags to the grocery store so that you do not have to waste plastic or paper bags.

*Start composting by using red wiggler worms.  Worms speed up decomposition by eating and digesting organic matter like leftover foods and vegetables, lawn waste, leaves, and even paper.  You can get starter worms and bins online and don’t need a large space to start the process.

*Buy locally grown fruits and vegetables in your town’s farmers market.  Make buying local fresh foods a priority-it’s healthier for you and the planet.

During the colder months with less daylight it is easy to let yourself relax your workout routines.  Also, due to the holidays you may eat more than normal and indulge in more sweets and high fat foods.  Fortunately there are a few things you can do to ensure you maintain your health.

Stay Active:  It is easy to not get out and exercise as much as normal due to less daylight, but switch your evening walks to the morning or go on a lighted track.  Remember regular exercise actually provides you with more energy everyday than not having any physical activity.

Cut out Unnecessary Calories:  As it gets cooler you often turn to mochas and lattes to keep you warm.  These drinks are often full of unneeded calories and fat and should be a treat and not the norm.  Turn instead to tea as a healthier option to keep you warm.

Plan Evening Dinner:  Plan ahead for your evening dinners for the entire week so you do not run out of time and fall prey to fast food options.  Ensure you have all the ingredients you need the weekend before, so you can spend time with your family each evening having a healthy dinner.

Get Enough Sleep:  A good night’s sleep will help you feel energized and ready to tackle your busy days.  Try to stick to a routine with the same times you go to sleep and wake up and take thirty minutes to wind down before you lie down.