THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408240070
SECTION: HAMPTON ROADS WOMAN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANGIE MARBURY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
AS IF PREGNANCY, adolescence and menopause aren't complicated enough, there's one more ``side effect'' we may not know about: dental disease.
As a woman's body changes, her gums may react strongly to hormonal fluctuations, and become more sensitive and susceptible to gum disease. Dentists say a lifelong commitment to good oral hygiene is needed to lower the risks.
Dr. John Blaszczak of Holland Road Dental Care in Virginia Beach said good dental habits will prove beneficial to women during pregnancy.
``While a little bit of tartar might not cause gingivitis when they're not pregnant, when they are, it definitely will,'' Blaszczak said. ``Women's gums are much more prone to becoming inflamed when they're pregnant. They have to be more meticulous about having their teeth cleaned.''
Most often, women experience gingivitis - inflammation of the gums - at the beginning of the second or third month of pregnancy. It increases in severity through the eighth month and decreases in the ninth month. The symptoms are swelling, bleeding and redness in the gums.
The heightened progesterone levels cause the body to react to plaque or tartar on teeth. Without treatment, pregnancy gingivitis can damage the gums and bone surrounding the teeth, resulting in tissue loss.
Many dentists recommend soft, nylon tooth brushes for pregnant patients because the gums are sensitive.
``Soft toothbrushes are always the best because the tips are more rounded,'' Blaszczak said. ``Hard ones can be more traumatic to your gums than anything else.''
Dentists also recommend that pregnant women change their tooth brushes or the brush head on their automatic plaque remover at least once every three or four months to good oral health.
Adolescence can also affect dental health. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, growing levels of progesterone in a young woman's body generate increased blood circulation to the gums. As a result, gums may become more sensitive, leading to swelling and irritation from food particles, plaque and tartar.
``If swelling is not treated by a professional cleaning and diligent at-home oral care, the bone and tissue surrounding the teeth can be damaged,'' said Dr. Debra Salman, a periodontist from Howell, N.J. ``While the tendency for a young woman's gums to swell will lessen as she progresses through adolescence, the chances are high that if she develops good dental habits early, she will continue to take care of her teeth and gums as an adult.''
Increased progesterone levels can cause gum disease in menopausal women.
Progesterone supplements sometimes prescribed by physicians may increase the body's response to irritants, causing gums to bleed and swell. Gums may bleed easily and range in color from abnormally pale to deep red. Dentists can control the condition with medication, the AAP says.
While treatment is available for gum disease throughout a woman's life, dentists say prevention is simpler.
Daily brushing and flossing can minimize or prevent gum disease in all stages of life. by CNB