Will pregnancy affect my oral health?
Expectant mothers (and women who take some oral contraceptives) experience elevated levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This causes the gums to react differently to the bacteria found in plaque, and in many cases can cause a condition known as “pregnancy gingivitis.” Symptoms include swollen, red gums and bleeding of the gums when you brush. Remember that the bacteria in plaque (not hormones) is what causes gingivitis. Brush twice a day and floss before you go to bed to help avoid plaque buildup.
What are “pregnancy tumors?”
Pregnancy tumors (pyogenic granuloma) are rare, usually painless lesions that may develop on your gums in response to plaque. Although they are not cancerous, they should be treated. Pregnancy tumors usually subside shortly after childbirth.
Could gingivitis affect my baby’s health?
New research suggests a link between pre-term, low birth weight babies and gingivitis. Excessive bacteria, which causes gingivitis, can enter the bloodstream through your mouth (gums). If this happens, the bacteria can travel to the uterus, triggering the production of chemicals called “prostaglandins,” which are suspected to induce premature labor.
Should I receive dental treatment while I’m pregnant?
Good oral health care is vital during your pregnancy. Continue with your regular dental cleaning and checkups to avoid oral infections that can affect the fetus, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Dentists recommend that major dental treatments that aren’t urgent be postponed until after you child is born. The first trimester, the stage of pregnancy in which the baby’s organs are formed is most crucial to your baby’s development, so it is best to have procedures performed during the second trimester to minimize any potential risk.
Dental work is not recommended during the third trimester because the dental chair tends to be too uncomfortable for the mother. If you lie back, the chair may cut off circulation by placing pressure on the vein that returns blood to the heart from the lower part of your body.
If I do need treatment, what drugs are safe?
Be extremely cautious of all drugs during pregnancy. If you have gingivitis or periodontal disease, your dentist may want to treat you more often to achieve healthy gums and a healthy baby.
Although dental anesthetics such as novocaine or lidocaine can enter the placenta, which filters out most drugs, the doses used in most dental procedures are considered safe.
If you need to have dental work done during your pregnancy, research has shown that some acceptable antibiotics include penicillin, amoxicillin, and clindamycin, but avoid tetracycline, which can cause discoloration of your child's temporary and permanent teeth.
Products containing acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, are approved, but you should be wary of other over-the-counter medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Avoid using narcotics for dental pain until your child is carried to term.
Who can I talk to?
If you have any concerns about treatment or medications, make sure to ask your dentist or physician before receiving treatment. Most dental procedures are safe during pregnancy.
Remember, the healthier your mouth is, the healthier and happier your pregnancy and baby will be.
Source: AGD IMPACT 2001
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The Role of Free Radicals and Antioxidants
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Free radicals are oxygen molecules that have lost an electron in interactions with other molecules. As a result these molecules are extremely unstable or reactive. In their quest to "heal" themselves free radicals steal electrons from other healthy molecules, creating more free radicals in the process, damaging cell components.
Although free radicals are entirely natural and they are a by-product of normal bodily processes like breathing air or digesting food, they are also extremely treacherous. Every time free radicals seek to stabilize themselves they damage healthy cells. Free radicals aren't just manufactured by our own bodies. They are also unleashed by external factors including sunlight, cigarette smoke, and air pollution.
Certain nutrients called antioxidants (a group that includes certain vitamins, amino acids, and other natural substances) can stop or even reverse free radical damage simply by giving these wildly out of control molecules the electron partners they seek. Once the antioxidant joins the free radical it makes the free radical harmless.
You may have come to know antioxidants as vitamins. Some of the most powerful ones are vitamins such as E, C, and beta-carotene and others which occur naturally inside the human body.
Coenzyme Q10 is a natural product that increases oxygen utilization by heart muscle cells and improves the health of gums. Supplemental antioxidants are indeed "good health insurance" and may extend our life span. Vitamin co-factors are vitamins that help the antioxidants do their job better.
Why do we need antioxidants since oxygen is absolutely essential to life? Because oxygen is also a highly toxic gas whose destructive effects can most easily be seen in the corrosion of metals such as iron, copper, and many other substances which can be totally destroyed by "rusting," the popular term for oxidation. Therefore, all living organisms need antioxidants to be able to live in the oxygen-rich atmosphere of our planet.
“Why Your Toothbrush Is Making You Sick” *
Clinical studies confirm that harmful and even deadly microorganisms can incubate on common toothbrushes: Dr. Richard T. Glass, DDS, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma.
These bacteria, yeasts, fungi and viruses can not only cause oral and gum diseases, but diseases affecting the entire human anatomy.
Cross-contamination of toothbrushes occurs when you unknowingly share your toothbrush with everyone else in your household by placing it in the same drawer in the bathroom or on the same toothbrush holder on the top of the bathroom sink. Whenever one family member comes down with a cold or the flu, germs spread from one toothbrush to another. Streptococcus mutans, the organism, known to produce cavities in teeth, can, like other viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites be transferred to the toothbrushes in close proximity to one another.
The bathroom is by far the most infectious environment within the household. It is typically high in humidity and is subject to a multitude of airborne microorganisms. With each flush of the toilet, your toothbrush is aerated at the risk of introducing these pathogenic microorganisms into your system via the toothbrush.
Chemical treatments, dishwashing, boiling, autoclaving and even microwaving either does not kill large numbers and groups of microorganisms or renders the toothbrush completely unusable.
An ultraviolet toothbrush sterilizer**, has proven 99.9% effective in eliminating the infectious organisms. Your toothbrush is germ-free every time it is being used.
The toothbrush can be a home to the cold and flu viruses, the herpes virus that causes cold sores, staphylococcus aureus that causes ear, nose and throat infections and even Candida and more. Each time we brush our teeth, these species can be introduced into our bloodstream via our toothbrushes. These species can also become a potential health risk especially for heart disease, ulcers, heartburn and nausea. These organisms can compromise the health of a weakened immune system, like those with HIV, cancer or diabetes.
It takes about two weeks for the average toothbrush to become so heavily laden with microorganisms that can either produce disease or perpetuate disease, that you’re really defeating your purpose by using the toothbrush.
Source: * Health and Fitness** Purebrush Sterilizer
Your Mouth 
Your mouth performs many functions – chewing, speaking, drinking, breathing and swallowing. Your mouth forms a smile, sends a kiss and senses taste. Your lips, tongue, gums and teeth all call your mouth home. It’s the gateway to your digestive system.
Burning mouth syndrome commonly affects post-menopausal women. The cause is unknown. This is generally experienced beginning in late morning and intensifying by evening. Its onset may be preceded by a dental procedure or common cold, suggesting possible nerve damage. Consult with your dentist and ask your physician to test for diseases such as diabetes and nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc, or B vitamins such as folic acid).
Excessive drooling in adults may result from taking certain psychiatric drugs like Haldol or from difficulty in swallowing that may accompany Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular problems. Drooling may also be a problem for healthy people who simply make too much saliva.
Loss of taste problems are probably due to loss of smell. Loss of taste happens with aging and illness, from smoking and medication (antibiotics and blood pressure pills).
Metallic taste can result from antibiotics or other drugs and supplements or having a bacterial infection or nutritional deficiency. Chemotherapy or radiation treatments that can damage nerves linked with taste or smell can also cause a metallic taste.
Other mouth concerns are bad breath, canker sores, cracks at the corner of the mouth, dry mouth, sensitive teeth and nighttime teeth grinding. Consult with your dentist for specific treatments for these conditions.
The appearance of your tongue can reflect your current health status as well as the health of your digestive system. Tongue analysis is an important diagnostic tool in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is a healing system that believes the size, shape, color, coating, texture and moisture of the tongue can provide clues to your inner health and well-being.
In TCM, a healthy tongue is pink and moist with a thin clear or white coat. A pale tongue may suggest anemia; yellow may indicate liver or gall bladder problems; dark red could mean inflammation or infection in the body; while purple may point to circulatory problems.
We must be aware of the need for constant whole body observation and maintenance for achieving a healthy lifestyle.
