Jul
Due the number of questions that have arisen recently from patients, I felt this topic deserved some much needed attention. Whether already expecting or planning a pregnancy, it is our nature to want to provide the best for our children. Understanding how oral health, self and baby health are connected are crucial. I hope this information is both interesting food for thought, and useful in practice.
Best Wishes,
Dr Cynthia
Preliminary analysis of qualitative results shows that some women may believe that poor oral health status during pregnancy is normal; also, they may fear certain aspects of dental care during pregnancy. For example, some women may believe that they or their fetus could be harmed by treatment. If pregnancy modifies perceptions of oral health and dental care in women, it may contribute to women’s avoidance of dental treatment while pregnant.
Periodontitis is associated with preterm birth and low birth weight, and high levels of cariogenic bacteria in mothers can lead to increased dental caries in the infant. Other oral lesions, such as gingivitis and pregnancy tumors, are benign and require only reassurance and monitoring. Every pregnant woman should be screened for oral risks, counseled on proper oral hygiene, and referred for dental treatment when necessary. Dental procedures such as diagnostic radiography, periodontal treatment, restorations, and extractions are safe and are best performed during the second trimester. Xylitol and chlorohexidine may be used as adjuvant therapy for high-risk mothers in the early postpartum period to reduce transmission of cariogenic bacteria to their infants
There is conflicting evidence about the linear effect of preterm birth and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease (Periodontitis) is the destructive inflammation of the supporting structures on the teeth which affects up to 30% of women of childbearing age. Studies show a correlation between inflammatory markers and poor pregnancy outcomes, however. Since these markers are present also with periodontitis, it seems likely the relationship is nonspecific and that The focus should be on improving the condition before pregnancy.
Primary teeth begin to develop between weeks 6 and 8 from conception, and they have completed development by week 20 barely halfway through the pregnancy. At the time the primary teeth are completing development in the 20th week, the permanent teeth have begun to develop. All of the permanent dentition (those teeth that will replace the “baby” teeth between the ages of 6 to 13 years of age) have developed completely by age 3 except the wisdom teeth.
Teeth themselves can be harmed from inadequate nutrition of the mother either in too little enamel or poor quality enamel. We know that many other structures are nonspecifically ill affected due to the correlation between poor enamel quantity or quality and a multiplicity of systemic disturbances. As one can see, it is very possible for much of the mineralization to well underway before there is even a confirmation of the pregnancy. It is best for a pre-expectant mother to have adequate stores of nutrition prior to the pregnancy to ensure the healthy development of not only teeth but all the structures of the developing child.
Effect of nutrition and diet on dental structural integrity cda journal vol 39 #4 april 2011 pg243-248
The following information comes from the research of German Physician Deitrich Klinghart. He is one of the foremost Integrative Medical Physicians in the World. Through his work we continue to learn crucial connections between chronic and immediate health concerns and how medical dentistry can greatly enhance health.
This is in my experience definitely the most common cause of infertility in both sexes. A good detoxification program using NDF, Chlorella, Phospholipids with EDTA, sauna therapy, lymphatic drainage and (Tim Ray’s) biological terrain management (are a must). Removal of amalgam fillings and root filled teeth may be required to conceive, especially for the mother. It is much easier and safer to detoxify a mother before she becomes pregnant. Other factors involve food allergies, unresolved emotional trauma, poor dental occlusion and geopathic or biophysical stress.
Toxicity: during pregnancy and breastfeeding large quantities of toxins, up to one third of the mothers total body burden, are passed on to the fetus. Dental practices should warn mothers not to have mercury containing silver amalgam fillings placed during pregnancy. We know that a filling outgases 50% of its high mercury content over the first seven years of its existence. But, what about the mothers that have fillings?
Fillings should, ideally, come out before conception. If the mother is already pregnant, the fillings can be safely removed, provided they are removed by the few dentists that know how to do it correctly (trained by IAOMT). The mother’s body uses the unborn baby as a garbage can. Nature always favors the survival of the elders over the young ones. It is absolutely important and correct to attempt to detoxify a mother during pregnancy rather then accepting the risk of not detoxifying her. I use chlorella, NDF, electric foot baths and other safe treatment protocols to pull toxins from the mother’s blood without interfering with nutrient transport or uptake.
We know that the baby of a mother that has low folic acid levels before pregnancy has a higher risk of being born with spina bifida or hare’s lip. Adding folic acid to the diet after becoming pregnant may be too late. I have all my female patients on 1-2mg of folic acid, since it also prevents cervical dysplasia to a high degree.
We know that it is no longer safe eat fish, especially tuna and other fish higher up on the food chain where contaminants are concentrated more then a million times. Some fish oil producers (i.e. Nordic Naturals and Carlson’s) use a proprietary process which removes mercury and other metals. However, they do not necessarily remove PCBs and other chemicals. Good fish oil is absolutely necessary for the child’s brain development. Studies indicate that; if enough fish oil is consumed in the last trimester, the child is more intelligent and has less chance of developing neurological disorders. The mother benefits too, by having less of a chance of developing eclampsia or preclampsia, less post partum depression and less complications during related complications simply by taking a daily multivitamin. Both Italian and German studies suggest strongly, that L-Carnitine (2 cap 3 times/day) make a huge difference in outcome.
Complications during pregnancy as well as labor are greatly reduced. The child is often larger, healthier and more intelligent later in life. A Finnish study on 169 children from the University of Turku demonstrated how tooth decay in young children can be prevented: if the mother chews streptococcus mutans killing xylitol chewing gum 3 times per day during the pregnancy and for one year afterwards, the child has virtually no tooth decay until age 5 (as compared to a group that had regular fluoride or chlorohexedine treatments).
WHO estimates that the world IQ has declined 10-15 % in the last 15 years due to malnutrition. The study did not exclude tests taken in the US population. Lack of vitamin A, Lithium, Iodine and Fish-oil are most strongly linked to the decline.
Great progress has been made in the prevention of dental caries and furthering proper development of the facial structures and dental arches. As already mentioned above, if a mother chews xylitol chewing gum 3 -5 times per day during pregnancy and for the first year of life, the child has no tooth decay for 5 years and there is still a statistically significant effect at age 10 – even if the child never chews the gum. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that inhibits the growth of streptococcus mutants, the caries bug.
Research in Japan showed, if pregnant mothers and their children eat 1-2 capsules chlorella growth factor (a heat extract of chlorella), the 20 children in the experimental group did not develop any tooth decay for 5 years (opposed to the control group who showed a significant amount of tooth decay).
The most startling finding in the study was; chlorella growth factor children developed beautifully developed facial structures and dental arches, predicting a lack of facial pain, jaw problems, neck problems, headaches, hormonal problems and more, later in life. In a Japanese study on dogs – perfect dental arches also predicted better general health, a higher life expectancy, higher intelligence, more pleasant behavioral characteristics and a non-scoliotic, perfect spine.