In the News - For moms, more kids can mean fewer teeth

I thought, I am always looking for articles about kids and family...why not look into women's health as well? Then I saw the article: For moms, more kids can mean fewer teeth.

Really? Interesting!

According to the article: "Women who gave birth to more children tended to lose more teeth during their lives, regardless of whether they were rich or poor, U.S researchers found.

They examined data on 2,635 U.S. women ages 18 to 64, sorting the nationally representative sample into three categories — low, middle and high socioeconomic status.

In the highest socioeconomic group, women with no children were missing on average less than one tooth, those with one child were missing about two teeth and those with four or more were missing about five teeth.

Among the women in the lowest socioeconomic group, those with no children on average were missing two teeth, those with one child were missing an average of three teeth and those with four or more were missing more than eight teeth.

The trend also held true in the middle socioeconomic group, said the researchers at New York University and Yale University in Connecticut."

But, why was this occurring?

"Women are more prone to gingivitis during pregnancy, when the response of the oral tissues to the bacteria in the mouth is altered, Russell said.

Gingivitis occurs when bacteria build up between the teeth and gums, causing inflammation and bleeding. Untreated, it can lead to more serious gum disease and eventually tooth loss.

In addition, Russell said women may be less likely to see a dentist while pregnant, perhaps in part because they want to avoid dental X-rays due to concern over radiation exposure.

Women with multiple children may also forgo their own dental care, possibly due to lack of money or time, Russell said."

So, in case you don't know what Gingivitis is, I'll break it down for you. According to the American Dental Association, Gingivitis is "Inflammation of gingival tissue without loss of connective tissue."

According to WebMD, "Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase your risk for developing gingivitis and periodontitis. As a result of varying hormone levels, between 50%-70% of women will develop gingivitis sometime during their pregnancy – a condition called pregnancy gingivitis.

"The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy – especially the increased level of progesterone – may make it easier for certain gingivitis-causing bacteria to grow as well as make gum tissue more sensitive to plaque and exaggerate the body's response to the toxins (poisons) that result from plaque. In fact, if you already have significant gum disease, being pregnant may make it worse."

So, how do you try to prevent this? Well, according to WebMD, "First, it's especially important to practice good oral hygiene habits, which include brushing at least twice a day, flossing once a day, and using an antimicrobial mouth rinse. If you are due for a professional cleaning, don't skip it simply because you are pregnant. Now more than ever, professional dental cleanings are particularly important."

Apparently gum disease and premature birth have been shown to be associated! "At least a couple of major studies have shown that this is indeed true. Researchers of one study who published their results in The Journal of the American Dental Association found that pregnant women with chronic gum disease were four to seven times more likely to deliver prematurely (before gestational week 37) than mothers with healthy gums. Mothers with the most severe periodontal disease delivered the most prematurely at 32 weeks.

"However, "The researchers' study did not address if treating gum disease would reduce the risk of preterm birth, adding that more studies need to be conducted to answer this question. Their main findings, however, support the results of another study that also showed that premature, underweight babies were born more often to mothers with periodontal disease."

Who knew? Now, you do!!