Pregnant and periodontal disease

Grawns

I was already 6 weeks pregnant when I saw a specialist after my own dentist wasn't happy with my gums/teeth. Assh*le was less than helpful and I will probably get a 2nd opinion. Told me I would loose 2 teeth and to gargle with salt water. I would need dental planing? some kind of horrid deep cleaning after baby and an implant. I've never even needed a filling before now.

Anyone know of an extra good mouthwash Also a periodontists who treats pregnant women?

ps. Have dental phobia too so normally get a tranquilizer to get my teeth cleaned, obviously nnot an option now.

I've googled this wit no success and am just getting on with being pregnanmt while my mouth is quietly falling apart! bah!:mad:

lauren1980

If your in Dublin id say head to the seapoint clinic its just before Blackrock -they do dental surgery and all procedures there and are absolutely brilliant - so helpful and will explain all your options to you so you will really understand. Really nice surgery and staff. A real difference to other dentists who didnt explain stuff at all properly

How Strange

Grawns wrote: »

I was already 6 weeks pregnant when I saw a specialist after my own dentist wasn't happy with my gums/teeth. Assh*le was less than helpful and I will probably get a 2nd opinion. Told me I would loose 2 teeth and to gargle with salt water. I would need dental planing? some kind of horrid deep cleaning after baby and an implant. I've never even needed a filling before now.

Anyone know of an extra good mouthwash Also a periodontists who treats pregnant women?

ps. Have dental phobia too so normally get a tranquilizer to get my teeth cleaned, obviously nnot an option now.

Grawns, I'm not pregnant but I'm in my early 30's and found out last year that I have advanced gum disease.

Since then I've had four intensive cleans done on my teeth (a quarter at a time) which was sore and uncomfortable but not painful (except to my wallet!). I was also told I would lose my front teeth and was told I was months if not weeks away from losing them. 8 months on and the teeth have stablised and things don't look so dire. I've spent a small fortune but it's been worth every cent.

I use those little brushes to floss every night between my teeth and you really have to get in there and aggravate the gums so it's not pretty for the first few times. Then I brush the teeth and gums thoroughly (I say this because I used to avoid brushing my gums if they bled as I thought you should leave them alone which was the worst thing to do) with an electric brush, if the gums bleed I concentrate on that area for a little longer. Then I use Kin mouthwash and gargle for 1 min and then use Kin periodontal gel to brush all over my teeth and gums. Obviously you need to check that you can use these products because you're pregnant.

I think you need to go to another dentist and get a second opinion before any more damage is done as it is irreparable. Periodontal disease is apparently quite common in pregnant women so you need to see a dentist who will try and do as much as they can now.

I've got a fantastic dentist in D6 so PM me if you want his details.
Hope that helps.

Grawns

Thanks so much guys. I've been trying to ignore this but I know it's going to get worse before it gets better. How stange- It's very good to hear that you have had improvement of the effected bone, gum, teeth. I would love you to pm me your dentist details asI need to start getting this treated soon. Having someone recommend someone helps alleviate my fear. I'm in my 2nd trimester now so time to get this agony underway. Will look into the mouthwash and gel. Edit: Where can I buy them as google not being helpful?

Sara J

Most dentists will not carry out invasive procedures on women during their first trimester of pregnancy. However, minor procedures such as scaling and polishing should be carried out without any problems. This includes periodontal treatment, although it may not be advisable to have local anaesthesia during the treatment.
Pregnant women often suffer with gingivitis, unfortunately it is often a side effect of pregnancy, so it is important to look after the health of your gums during pregnancy. Attending your dental hygienist or dentist regularly for cleanings is important, as is flossing and brushing the teeth and gums with a soft toothbrush. Kin mouthwash contains clorohexidine, which reduces inflammation ( a cause of gum disease). Unlike corsodyl mouthwash, which also contains clorohexidine, Kin does not stain the teeth. Most good chemists should sell Kin. Its about 5 euro for a bottle, and comes in a white box with pink writing I think.

Big_G

Dentists tend to avoid doing work in the first and 3rd trimesters. The second trimester is the best.

Pregnancy hormones can aggravate a pre-existing gum or periodontal condition, but they don't cause periodontal disease.

Another important thing to consider is that new evidence suggests that mothers with periodontal disease are more likely to give birth to low birth weight babies or give birth early. I don't want to alarm you, it is early days yet in terms of the evidence, but I always encourage pregnant women or women considering getting pregnant to be checked and to be treated if necessary for periodontal disease.

Mrsbananas

How Strange wrote: »

Grawns, I'm not pregnant but I'm in my early 30's and found out last year that I have advanced gum disease.

Since then I've had four intensive cleans done on my teeth (a quarter at a time) which was sore and uncomfortable but not painful (except to my wallet!). I was also told I would lose my front teeth and was told I was months if not weeks away from losing them. 8 months on and the teeth have stablised and things don't look so dire. I've spent a small fortune but it's been worth every cent.

I use those little brushes to floss every night between my teeth and you really have to get in there and aggravate the gums so it's not pretty for the first few times. Then I brush the teeth and gums thoroughly (I say this because I used to avoid brushing my gums if they bled as I thought you should leave them alone which was the worst thing to do) with an electric brush, if the gums bleed I concentrate on that area for a little longer. Then I use Kin mouthwash and gargle for 1 min and then use Kin periodontal gel to brush all over my teeth and gums. Obviously you need to check that you can use these products because you're pregnant.

I think you need to go to another dentist and get a second opinion before any more damage is done as it is irreparable. Periodontal disease is apparently quite common in pregnant women so you need to see a dentist who will try and do as much as they can now.

I've got a fantastic dentist in D6 so PM me if you want his details.
Hope that helps.

How much is a small fortune? I have same as above and have just made appointments to see hygenist and dentist, 8 appointments in total over the course of a month and I'm terrified over the cost. I do qualify for prsi if that makes any difference, but was told the hygenist is private??

How Strange

Mrsbananas wrote: »

How much is a small fortune? I have same as above and have just made appointments to see hygenist and dentist, 8 appointments in total over the course of a month and I'm terrified over the cost. I do qualify for prsi if that makes any difference, but was told the hygenist is private??

For my work, I think it cost €250 per clean (1/4 of my teeth at a time) so about €1k in total. AFAIK it is not covered under PRSI but you can reclaim it back from the revenue at the end of the year. The dentist should give you a signed med2 form when you're finished.

gowayouttadat

How Strange wrote: »

Grawns, I'm not pregnant but I'm in my early 30's and found out last year that I have advanced gum disease.

Since then I've had four intensive cleans done on my teeth (a quarter at a time) which was sore and uncomfortable but not painful (except to my wallet!). I was also told I would lose my front teeth and was told I was months if not weeks away from losing them. 8 months on and the teeth have stablised and things don't look so dire. I've spent a small fortune but it's been worth every cent.

I use those little brushes to floss every night between my teeth and you really have to get in there and aggravate the gums so it's not pretty for the first few times. Then I brush the teeth and gums thoroughly (I say this because I used to avoid brushing my gums if they bled as I thought you should leave them alone which was the worst thing to do) with an electric brush, if the gums bleed I concentrate on that area for a little longer. Then I use Kin mouthwash and gargle for 1 min and then use Kin periodontal gel to brush all over my teeth and gums. Obviously you need to check that you can use these products because you're pregnant.

I think you need to go to another dentist and get a second opinion before any more damage is done as it is irreparable. Periodontal disease is apparently quite common in pregnant women so you need to see a dentist who will try and do as much as they can now.

I've got a fantastic dentist in D6 so PM me if you want his details.
Hope that helps.

Hiya, just wondering if I could pick your brain on my situation. I am currently 36 weeks pregnant. I have an awful fear of dentists, totally irrational but I've been like that for years, but I bite the bullet about four weeks ago and went to the dentist as my gums were getting worse... bleeding when brushed and like you I thought I shouldn't aggravate them. It was my first time with this dentist and he seems ok (if a little negative).
He did a clean and gave me one of those little brushes to floss between my teeth. He also recommended Dentyl mouthwash as it doesn't contain alcohol.

The instructions he gave me on using the brush were to really angle it up into the gums, that it would be sore and that my mouth would be "like a blood bath" for a few weeks. I've been using the brush since but as much as I try to use it like he says my gums aren't bleeding as much as he hinted they would. They bleed a small bit but really nothing compared to what I expected. My gums don't bleed any more when I brush my teeth normally either. I'm scared I'm not doing it right and I'm going to make it worse? I'm not due to go back to him for another two weeks.

He said I might lose one tooth in the front but he couldn't tell me for definite.
I'm just wondering is it a good sign that my gums aren't bleeding like they used to? Or is this just a temporary thing because of the cleaning he gave them. I'm so scared of dentists that I'm terrified of what work I'm going to need done afterwards.

Also where can you get the gel? You're the second person I've seen recommend it but my dentist didn't say anything about it.

How Strange

For using the brushes, I would go into the gum on both sides of the tooth. It's not enough to just brush between the teeth, you have to get between the gum and the tooth. I'd say if your gums aren't bleeding then you're not doing it right. I made that mistake the first time I was using them and the hygienist gave out to me.

Are you booked into see a hygienist? I go every 3 months and it's an essential part of your treatment and for my first few visits it really was a bloodbath.

Most pharmacies sell the gel. I think periokin is the name and I found it good to use after flossing (with the brushes), brushing (with electric toothbrush) and using mouthwash. I would then rub it on my gums and it helped with the inflamation. Ask your local pharmacy and if they don't stock it they will probably order it for you.