Deadly or damaged for life; there is much more to the story. Systemic and oral conditions feed off each other. Elevated estrogen levels during pregnancy unbalance the normal bacterial balance in the mouth – estrogen encourages the more destructive bacteria to thrive. Pregnancy also releases hormones that make blood vessel walls leaky, so it is easier for bacteria to enter the blood stream, then enter the placenta and amniotic fluid. Isn't it odd that most OBs check for urinary tract infections all the time, but rarely check for gum disease? Both increase inflammation in the body, which releases prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are what OBs administer to stimulate labor. Pre-term/Low Birth Weight (PT/LBW) babies are partly what they are concerned about. From "Mouth Matters, Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body": "Six of the destructive anaerobic bacteria known to contribute to gum disease are commonly found at least half the time in placentas of mothers with preeclampsia, the most dangerous pregnancy complication". Also: "Some studies suggest fetal brain structure is altered when a mother hosts an infection." Simple gingivitis can triple PT/LBW risks. Moderate gum disease can move that statistic to 8X the risk. Half of all neural tube defects in babies are due to PT/LBW. Asthma, poor vision, cerebral palsy, low IQ, poor motor skills, and hearing and neuro-developmental disabilities are also linked to early delivery. Inflammation from poor oral conditions can also make it difficult to become pregnant. Keeping inflammation low in the first place through lifestyle is most important. Certainly I detail these in my book, but there are endless sources available. "Mouth Matters" just explains inflammatory diseases and what you can do about them from the oral point of view. Hope this helps. Carol Vander Stoep, RDH American Academy of Oral systemic Health founding member Author/speaker

Flossing is not necessarily the best way to get rid of plaque on teeth. New approaches show that cleaning your saliva with xylitol can be very effective. Xylitol is a delicious natural sugar that makes plaque slippery and then ( if you use the correct mouth rinses) you can easily wash this plaque off your teeth. This book describes why and how this happens. www.KissYourDentistGoodbye