Helaine Smith DMD

In response to the increased risk of preterm births and low birth weight babies of pregnant women with periodontal disease, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recently revised its oral health guidelines for pregnant women.

Accord to the press release, the guidelines are based on:

“studies that suggest that proper dental care during the perinatal period may help prevent preterm and low birth-weight babies. . . . Many women, however, are unaware of the implications poor oral health can have on themselves and their babies and often don’t seek oral care during pregnancy.

Additionally, mothers with poor oral health may be at greater risk of infecting their children with the bacteria that causes cavities, increasing their children’s caries risk at an early age.”

The AAPD’s new oral health guidelines for pregnant women include:

Better oral health education from all healthcare providers, including nurses and physicians, before a woman becomes pregnant.

Daily brushing and flossing on the part of the expectant woman.

Dietary education on the part of healthcare providers to help expectant mothers understand how their food choices can impact their oral health.

Using a fluoridated toothpaste approved by the ADA as well as rinsing with an over-the-counter fluoride rinse to help reduce plaque levels.

Ensuring the expectant mom receives professional dental care during her pregnancy in order to fix cavities and monitor her oral health.

Chewing xylitol gum, which evidence suggests can help decrease a child’s rate of getting cavities.

You can learn more about how to improve your oral health by downloading my free e-book: Keep Your Body Healthy . . . Brush Your Teeth! (Just click the image over on the right.)

AOL News posted an article about how mercury fillings pose “health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses according to the Food and Drug Administration after settling a related lawsuit.”

*Finally* the FDA addresses this topic of mercury and the potential health risks.

Although I do not believe mercury is the cause of illnesses like some people do, I resent the ADA’s (American Dental Association) support for amalgam (silver fillings) and how it perpetuates its use.

Amalgam is an antiquated material that breaks teeth when the mercury expands and contracts with temperature changes. It also stains teeth.

A technology from the Civil War era, amalgam handles very well in restoring many severely broken teeth, and it is cost effective, but many other *modern* materials exist that the ADA should support as vehemently.

Because of the ADA and its position, some dentists will not look at the advances in technology and materials; what they fail to realize is that amalgam fillings are an inferior treatment when compared to resin and tooth conserving porcelain restorations.

All the arguments for amalgam other than it is economic, are easily shot down with facts that support the other restorations and their ability to restore teeth soundly.

Perhaps if the dental school faculty themselves would learn to do composites properly, instead of bad mouthing them, they could teach the dental students 21st- century dentistry and the cycle would begin to break.

The ADA spends energy and money in defending the use of amalgam. Perhaps they could refocus their efforts on educating the public on the importance of regular dental appointments to check for oral cancer and periodontal health which is linked to heart disease and many other systemic diseases such as diabetes.

It also appears the insurance companies have their hand in this as they want to pay on the lowest reimbursed treatments — which of course include amalgam. They do not want amalgam banned as it will cost them billions. Of course they want to pay out on a mercury-based fillings at compensation levels that have not increased that much from last century.

In a new study by the University of North Carolina, researchers have linked gum disease in pregnant women with preeclampsia — a serious pregnancy complication that leads to high blood pressure, premature delivery, and even death of the mother and/or child.

According to lead investigator, Dr. Michael Ruma, speaking to Reuters Health, “Maternal periodontal (gum) disease clearly contributes to an increased risk of preeclampsia, and our results demonstrate that this risk is further increased in the presence of elevated systemic inflammation.”

You can read the study abstract at the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Website (April 2008 issue).

If you’re a woman and planning on getting pregnant or have recently become pregnant, I urge you to see your dental professional in order to determine if you have periodontal disease. According to my colleague, Dr. Abboud, a periodontal specialist, over 30% of those with the disease have a severe form of it.

You can also download my e-book, Healthy Mouth, Healthy Sex, for more information about how your oral health affects your physical and sexual health.

Dr. Helaine Smith’s Successful Smiles \ healthcast #7
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This is the second episode in a series that explores the connection between your oral health and sexual health.

In this episode, I discuss the connection between oral health and pregnancy.

Did you know that infections are thought to account for between 30 and 50 percent of all premature deliveries — including gum infections such as gingivitis and periodontal disease?

And, according to the American Academy of Periodontology, pregnant women with periodontal disease may be seven times more likely to deliver their babies prematurely or deliver babies that are too small.

In this podcast you’ll learn why:

• It’s important to have a dental exam before you get pregant and during the first trimester.
• You should consider being tested for HPV and throat cancer.
• Eating healthy foods is good for your baby — and for your smile.

Send any questions about dental health, or suggestions for future podcasts, to helainesmithdmd@aol.com.