Pregnancy | Loveable Smiles Dentistry

May 05

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Baby

Quite often Dr. Korenman hears a common “myth” or wives’ tale about cavities and pregnancy.

Women share with him that they had perfect teeth until they got pregnant. That all of their calcium leached out of their teeth and into the baby’s bones causing all their cavities.

The reality is that the calcium does not leach out of teeth.

There are several reasons why many pregnant women and new moms get tooth decay:

Hormones change during pregnancy causing the gums to be more susceptible to infection.
Many women experience nausea during pregnancy not allowing them to eat let alone put a toothbrush in their mouth. So the teeth aren’t getting cleaned.
Many women can only stomach certain foods and often give in to cravings that contain a lot of sugar and/or carbohydrates. These foods can cause tooth decay.

If you are pregnant, one of the most important medical appointments you can make is to call your dentist.

Why? Because the bacteria that cause gum disease may increase a mom’s risk for delivering prematurely.

Gum Disease & Developing Babies

There is a link between uncontrolled gum disease (and the mom may not even know she has gum disease as 80% of people have it) and pregnancy complications such as premature labor and preeclampsia (rise in blood pressure).

A study exploring the possible link between gum disease and preeclampsia found that 50% of the placentas from women with preeclampsia were positive for one or more periodontal pathogens.

Scientists believe these infections cause a rapid increase in certain fluids in the body that, in turn, induce labor. It’s not necessarily the infection itself but the body’s response to the infection that causes the premature birth.

Mom’s Hormones and the Baby’s Teeth

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase the risk of developing gum disease, which can affect the health of their babies.

Studies have shown that bacteria responsible for tooth decay are passed from the mother to the child in utero. The more frequently you give in to the craving for sugary snacks, the greater the chance of developing tooth decay.

Additionally, pregnant women with acid reflux are also at a greater risk of tooth erosion and

periodontal problems as the acid dissolves away the protective coating of teeth (enamel) leaving them weakened and at a very high risk of needing extensive (and expensive) restorations.

Dr. Korenman recommends that women visit his office as soon as they learn or their pregnancy. Dr. Korenman and his team will test for any dental health problems that might affect your baby.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a safe treatment plan to treat it and to help you keep it under control.

For the health of your unborn baby, we urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.

Apr 27

Women & Gum Disease – How Your Gums Change in Various Stages of Life

There is an important connection between a woman’s oral health and her overall health.

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that certain dental conditions like gum disease, can severely deteriorate her body, especially her lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life, including puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, can affect many tissues, including gum tissue.

Throughout her life cycle, women should be aware of these hormonal and oral/overall health connections. It’s very important for women to maintain their dental care appointments so that their dentists can check them for gum disease and other concerning dental issues.

Oral birth control: Inflamed gums are a common side effect of taking the pill. Dr. Korenman and his staff can give you suggestions to protect your gums and teeth.

Pregnancy: There is a link between uncontrolled gum disease (and the mom may not even know she has gum disease) and pregnancy complications such as premature labor and preeclampsia (rise in blood pressure).

Additionally studies have shown that bacteria responsible for tooth decay are passed from the mother to the child in utero. The more frequently you give in to the craving for sugary snacks, the greater the chance of developing tooth decay. Women are encouraged to call their dentist for an appointment as soon as they learn they are pregnant.

Menopause: During menopause, changing hormone levels can cause various mucus membranes to dry out including salivary glands, often leaving menopausal and postmenopausal women with a persistent feeling of dryness in the mouth. Other oral changes that may occur during menopause are red or inflamed gums, mouth sores, bad breath, burning sensations, and altered taste, especially salty, peppery or sour.

The health of your mouth can be a sign of your body’s health. Mouth problems are not just cavities, toothaches, and crooked or stained teeth. Many diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers are linked with oral health problems. Regular dental exams help you maintain good oral health and avoid related health problems.

At Loveable Smiles, we practice Total Health Dentistry and educate our patients on the “Mouth Body Connection.” Additionally, we check all our patients for gum disease.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman will design a treatment plan to help you get it under control and even more importantly, to keep it maintained in a healthy state.

We urge you to tell your mom to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

Happy Mother’s Day from Loveable Smiles in Richardson!

Apr 18

Women & Gum Disease – How Your Gums Change in Every Stage of Life

smiling-woman-in-dental-chair

The health of a woman’s mouth and gums has an impact on her overall health and self-esteem.

Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life, including puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, can affect many tissues, including gum tissue.

Throughout her life cycle, women should be aware of these hormonal and oral/overall health connections.

Gum Disease & Puberty

During puberty, an increased level of sex hormones, such as progesterone and possibly estrogen, causes increased blood circulation to the gums. This may cause an increase in the gum’s sensitivity and lead to a greater reaction to any irritation, including food particles and plaque. During this time, the gums may become swollen, turn red and feel tender.

Menstruation: It is not uncommon for gums to swell and bleed prior to menstruation. Some women may also suffer from the formation of canker sores. These symptoms typically disappear once their period arrives.

Oral birth control: Inflamed gums are a common side effect of taking the pill.

Menopause: Typical mouth changes that occur during menopause are red or inflamed gums, oral pain and discomfort, burning sensations, dry mouth and altered taste, especially salty, peppery or sour.

Gum Disease Statistics

80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Most gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.

The good news is that Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman will design a treatment plan to help you get it under control and even more importantly, to keep it maintained in a healthy state.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

Sep 09

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Baby

This blog post is the third in a series of articles to inform our readers about the connection between your oral health and your overall health; or in this case, your baby’s health.

The bacteria that cause gum disease may increase a mom’s risk for delivering prematurely.

Gum Disease & Developing Babies

There is a link between uncontrolled gum disease (and the mom may not even know she has gum disease) and pregnancy complications such as premature labor and preeclampsia (rise in blood pressure).

A study exploring the possible link between gum disease and preeclampsia found that 50% of the placentas from women with preeclampsia were positive for one or more periodontal pathogens.

Scientists believe these infections cause a rapid increase in certain fluids in the body that, in turn, induce labor. It’s not necessarily the infection itself, but the body’s response to the infection that causes the premature birth.

Mom’s Hormones and the Baby’s Teeth

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase the risk of developing gum disease, which can affect the health of their babies.

Additionally, pregnant women with acid reflux are also at a greater risk of tooth erosion and periodontal problems as the acid dissolves away the protective coating of teeth (enamel) leaving them weakened and at a very high risk of needing extensive (and expensive) restorations.

Dr. Korenman recommends that women visit his office as soon as they learn or their pregnancy. Dr. Korenman and his team will test for any health problems that might affect your baby.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a safe treatment plan to help you keep it under control.