Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents - (Fall 2005)

For Jessi Kucera, the path to a healthy and successful pregnancy includes a stop at the dentist office.

Kucera is one of about 150 women who have taken part in weekly education and screening sessions at the Family Dental Clinic operated by the Health District. The goal: to reduce the incidence of preterm and low-birth weight babies.

The free screening program was prompted by the sometimes little-known fact that poor oral health has an adverse impact on pregnancy and, in turn, the health of newborns.

“Women with poor oral health are up to seven times more likely to have low birth weight babies,” says Dennis Lewis, a dentist and director of the dental program at the Health District.

The culprit is periodontal disease, a chronic infection of the gums that ultimately can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. Its health effects can extend far beyond the mouth, however. In addition to its impact on pregnancy, periodontal disease has been implicated in conditions as varied as diabetes and heart and lung disease.

Women with periodontal disease are more likely to experience preterm labor. In fact, periodontal disease outranks alcohol and tobacco as a cause of premature delivery. Even if a pregnancy continues to term, periodontal disease still can result in a low birth weight.

“If the mother is fighting off a long-term infection (periodontal disease) during her pregnancy, her body is less able to provide for the needs of the baby,” explains Dr. Lewis. “In essence, you have a struggle going on between the needs of the baby and the needs of the mom, and the development of the baby seems to be slower.”

Obvious signs of periodontal disease include bad breath, painful gums and bleeding when tooth brushing. Regular visits to the dentist also can help identify the problem at an early stage when it is more easily treated.

Good oral hygiene is the best defense against gum disease, and that includes brushing twice a day for at least two minutes and flossing daily. Use of an antiseptic mouth rinse also may be helpful. And regular visits to the dentist for cleaning and evaluation are essential.

Pregnant women have it especially tough; not only does periodontal disease jeopardize their pregnancy, but their pregnancy also makes them more susceptible to conditions that foster periodontal problems.

Pregnancy-related hormone fluctuations provoke physical changes in gum tissue that makes it more difficult to keep clean, Lewis says. As a result, many expectant moms experience swollen, sensitive gums that bleed easily. These changes also can worsen any gum disease that existed prior to pregnancy.

A trip to the dentist is also a wise addition to the prenatal checklist, he said.

That’s where the Health District screenings come in. The screenings are a spin-off of a nearly 3-year-old program primarily aimed at reducing tooth decay among babies and toddlers. Supported by a three-year grant from the Caring for Colorado Foundation, the Early Childhood Caries Prevention Project provides education to lower income women who may not have a history of regular dental care.

“Some of the mothers we see will say, ‘My mom had dentures, so that means I’m going to lose all of my teeth, too,’ ” says Kadie Leonhardt a health educator for the project.  “We’re trying to break that cycle.”

Women like Jessi Kucera of Fort Collins watch an educational presentation on periodontal disease and baby bottle tooth decay and then receive a free screening by a dental hygienist. Kucera was found to have some gingivitis, but since even mild periodontal disease can impact a pregnancy, she will be scheduled for a low-cost cleaning at the clinic.

After that, Kucera says, “I’m going to floss more often.”