Gum Disease Tied to Diabetes in Pregnant Women

A study in New York University showed that women with periodontal (gum) disease were at much higher risk for gestational diabetes than pregnant women with healthy gums. The study was led by Dr. Ananda P. Dasanayak, a professor of epidemiology and health promotion at the NYU College of Dentistry studied 256 women in New York during their first 6 months of pregnancy. He found that 22 of the women who had high levels of periodontal bacteria and inflammation developed gestational diabetes.

The biggest issue and characteristic with gestational diabetes is the inability for the body to properly transport glucose to the cells during pregnancy. The positive part is that the condition usually goes away after the pregnancy is over, but women who get gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at a high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes later on in life. As for gestational diabetes, there is a higher risk of developing this form of diabetes by Asian, African American and Hispanic women. Hispanic women constituted 80% of the study.

Pregnant women should see their dentist for proper cleanings and to offset any problems early in the pregnancy. If you’re not sure if you might have gum disease, you can refer to the chart above and schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible if you’re showing these common signs. Researchers believe that the inflammation may be the biggest culprit by interfering with the normal functioning of insulin, the hormone that regulates glucose metabolism.

So protect that smile for the health of you and your baby. Now there’s even more proof that healthy teeth and gums plays an even more important role than ever for your health, so don’t put it off if you think that you’re developing gum disease.

The only teeth that should be falling out should be your child’s first baby teeth. Luckily our baby gift selection offers these great tooth fairy boxes to store them in. Don’t put yours in there though. That’s just creepy.