Risk groups
Pregnancy
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Dental hygienists are considered to be extra important when you are pregnant.
In fact, during pregnancy, you should take extra care of yourself. You try to live consciously and eat healthy. Not only to ensure a healthy and fit delivery, but also for the health of your unborn baby. That is why it is so important to take good care of your mouth and teeth during your pregnancy. This way you can prevent problems during your pregnancy.
Increased risk of pregnancy gum disease
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Pregnancy increases the risk of gum infections in the mouth. Your gums can, due to an increased hormone level, react hypersensitive to dental plaque. The gums then become inflamed: they bleed, they are red and they swell. Also, changing eating habits (for example if you snack more often) will give you more chance of cavities. And then that annoying morning sickness also affects your teeth, because frequent vomiting can damage the enamel of the teeth. There is growing evidence that there is a relationship between gum disease and premature births. Pregnant women with periodontal disease (gum disease that also affects the jaw bone) are at a higher risk of giving birth prematurely and the baby being born too small. This has to do with an increased concentration of certain substances in the blood, which can induce contractions.
Take care of your mouth
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So there are plenty of reasons to take good care of your mouth during your pregnancy. This can be done by brushing correctly twice a day, cleaning between teeth and regularly visiting a dental hygienist. The dental hygienist is happy to coach you in obtaining and maintaining a healthy mouth. Even after your baby is born, it is important to keep visiting the dental hygienist. For yourself, but also for your child! For example, the dental hygienist can tell you how to take good care of your child's teeth and how best to learn healthy eating habits. These are also important in the development of your child's beautiful teeth!
Diabetes
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The function of a Dental hygienist is extra important in patients with diabetes.
Healthy, clean and radiant teeth and healthy gums. Who wouldn't want that? We all know that healthy and fresh teeth are pleasant. Relationships have been shown between general health and oral health. In diabetic patients the blood sugar level can no longer be kept within the normal limits because no or insufficient insulin is produced. It is also possible that the body no longer responds properly to insulin. The condition may not always be noticeable at first glance, but as a result of the disease, in addition to complications such as cardiovascular disease and kidney disease, more visible consequences can arise, such as eye disorders, foot problems and poor oral health.
Increased risk of gingivitis due to high blood sugar
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People with diabetes are more likely to suffer from gingivitis (gingivitis) and gum disease with loss of the jaw bone (periodontitis). This can even lead to a loss of teeth. The cause may be too high blood sugar. The body wants to get rid of the sugar by urinating a lot. This then ensures a drier mouth. Saliva protects teeth in a natural way. If there is less saliva, cavities and gum infections are more likely. These inflammations can also arise because diabetes patients have a poorer blood flow in the body. Years of high blood sugar damage the blood vessels. The gums are full of small blood vessels.
So there is a difference in the effect on oral health between good and poorly controlled diabetes.
Heart and vascular disease
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The function of a Dental hygienist is extra important in patients suffering with cardiovascular diseases.
Healthy, clean and radiant teeth and healthy gums. Who wouldn't want that? We all know that healthy and fresh teeth are pleasant, but good oral health can also save your life. Cardiovascular disease, the umbrella name for several diseases of the heart or blood vessels, is the number one cause of death among women. It is also a life-threatening condition among men. Now you will think that the development of cardiovascular disease is only related to an unhealthy lifestyle, such as too much food, smoking, too little exercise, stress or heredity. That is not always the case. Sometimes the quality of your teeth can cause diseases of the heart and blood vessels, or vice versa. A relationship has been shown between gingivitis and the risk of cardiovascular disease. The same bacteria have been found in the constrictions (plaques) in the blood vessels as can occur in plaque in the mouth.
Periodontal disease
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Gums can become infected. The bacteria settle in the space between the teeth and gums (pockets). Due to the accumulation of the bacteria, the inflammation can spread to the underlying tissue and jaw bone (periodontal disease). A nasty consequence can be the loss of teeth. It is even more annoying when the harmful mouth bacteria enter the bloodstream and can cause processes that lead to blood clots. These blood clots can lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you don't regularly visit a dental hygienist or dentist, periodontal disease can go unnoticed for a long time.
Brushing the right way helps
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Most gum and tooth problems can be prevented. This can be achieved by brushing correctly twice a day, cleaning between teeth, eating a healthy diet and regularly visiting a dental hygienist. The dental hygienist will be happy to coach you in obtaining and maintaining a healthy mouth.