Can I Go to the Dentist When I'm Pregnant? Health Articles | November 2 Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping , 2011 Just a generation ago, it was still rumored that expectant mothers should not have dental care, and some of these rumors are still looming thanks to well-meaning moms, grandmothers, and mothers-in-law. You absolutely should see your dentist during your pregnancy.
Twice yearly appointments with the dental hygienist are necessary for everyone but especially important for expectant mothers. Tell your dentist immediately about your pregnancy and keep your regular appointments. Pregnancy wreaks havoc on all parts of your body, including your teeth and gums. Gums swell and trap food, making infection more likely, and that infection does have access to the rest of the body. Gingivitis, which is infection of the gums, has been linked to premature or otherwise unhealthy births.
Cleanings can be done at anytime during a pregnancy, but the second trimester is often suggested for mere comfort of the mother. The first trimester is notorious for sickness and weak (ahem) gag reflexes, and an appointment could quickly take a nasty turn. The third trimester is just plain uncomfortable, and lying in the exam chair for an extended period just is not inviting. The accompanied inclination to be sick poses its own risks for a patient. Stomach acids from regurgitation can corrode enamel, and as contradictory as it may seem, a woman who experiences severe illness during pregnancy would benefit from an extra appointment or two while gestating.
One possible reason for continued misconceptions about avoiding the dentist during pregnancy stems from the fetal risks associated with X-rays. The films are usually taken once a year for dental records, and it is therefore probable that a patient will become due for them during gestation. X-rays should be avoided. Visiting the dentist should not.
Regular and necessary procedures like cavity fillings or caps pose no harm to a mother or the developing child and should not be avoided. In fact, avoiding such procedures poses a larger health risk. Cavities left for long periods of time can cause infections that can seep into the blood stream. Even if the offending tooth does not go that far, it is still going to cause pain, and ample pain medication cannot be prescribed during pregnancy. The vicious circle of avoiding the dentist will continue as the stress of the untreatable pain causes stress on the baby.
Medications for dental procedures, however, have been approved. If a medication is coded as a "Category B" it is deemed safe for pregnant women and their babies. The most popular numbing medications and dental sedatives can safely be used.
Select procedures such as cosmetic whitening, bonding, veneers, etc. should be postponed until after the birth. Since these are not necessary procedures, little research is done on their safety for pregnant women and fetuses.
Article Tags: During Pregnancy
What Are The Reasons For Inflammation In The Liver? Health Articles | February 11, 2011
An inflamed liver is a disorder that presents few indicators. You often don't understand it's there. This article describes the causes of an inflamed liver and why it can be a cause for concern.
Inflammation of the liver is a disorder that is also called hepatitis.
There are a number of different types of liver inflammation. The most common type of liver inflammation is caused by a virus and is therefore known as a viral infection. These infections can either be acute or chronic. Hepatitis that results from a viral infection is characterized by letters of the alphabet, like hepatitis A or hepatitis B. These viruses have medical names of course, but they're usually shortened to abbreviations like HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV.
Hepatitis B and C can be markedly dangerous, possibly leading to serious, even life-threatening diseases like cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Intemperate use of alcohol results in more cases of liver inflammation than any other cause. Alcohol is a toxin that has an insidious effect on the liver when used excessively and over a long period of time. It will eventually produce inflammation, and inflammation can eventually produce cirrhosis. There are approximately three times as many cases of hepatitis caused by alcohol overuse as there are cases of hepatitis C.
You can also get an inflamed liver from certain drugs and chemicals. There are a number of chemicals and drugs that can lead to an inflamed liver too. This even includes legal drugs, like pain medications, which can be overused or improperly used. The level of damage caused by drugs and chemicals, of course, depends on the drugs used, dosage, duration and general health of the user. Use of illegal drugs is always dangerous.
Various diseases are also the cause of an inflamed liver. Some of these diseases are related to the liver, but others aren't. Two such disorders that are relatively common are Wilson's disease and hemachromatosis. Wilson's disease is symptomatic of excessive copper accumulation in the body, while hemachromatosis is characterized by an abnormal build up of iron. An inflamed liver can also result from autoimmune disorders, yellow fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Liver inflammation signs will be different from case to case, depending mostly on the cause. But there are four that typically appear, often in combination.
Jaundice is a primary and virtually unmistakeable synptom. Jaundice causes the skin and the whites of the eyes to look noticeably yellow. Because of this discoloration, many people call this condition yellow jaundice.