I wonder, do people who want to curtail reproductive rights realize that one of the side effects of a pregnancy is damage to teeth and gums? And that 70% of women suffer from this? And that women whose teeth and gums were not in the best condition before pregnancy suffer really extensive damage? And that if this damage is not treated immediately it can result in serious sickness and infect the fetus?
I’m now undergoing hours and hours of dental work because I have had the Jewish luck to inherit both bad gums and bad teeth from my parents. The teeth just crumble away between one visit and the next, and a team of 5 dental specialists is working on me for hours during each visit. And I keep wondering what is it that women who aren’t fortunate to have a good dental insurance and the cash to pay for what the insurance is not covering are supposed to do if they are forced to carry a pregnancy against their will?
It is quite obvious, too, that people with poor teeth are also more likely to have no dental insurance and no cash, isn’t it?
I made a choice to get pregnant, so I’m living with the consequences of that choice and that’s fine by me. But how can anybody remove the choice but leave the responsibility? This makes zero sense. If you want to make such choices for people, then take responsibility, too. I will still consider you a sick freakazoid, but at least there will be some logic to your actions.
Gestational gingivitis and the resulting periodontal disease have been shown to cause fetus damage, miscarriage and premature birth. I’m guessing that, in their passionate worry for the welfare of fetuses, the anti-choicers propose that all pregnant women receive free dental coverage, right? I’ll post a link to such a proposal on their part the moment I find it. Or the moment hell freezes over, which will happen much sooner.
If there is one thing that can make anybody pro-choice, it is being pregnant as a result of one’s own choice.
Also: I obviously can’t take any pain-killers, so it’s best not to annoy me right now.
Clarissa's Blog 
It is folk wisdom that you lose a tooth with each child, I think. Can this be helped with extra vitamins and things?
You know what the anti-choicers say: you make the choice to have a child when you make the choice to have sex. And, if it is not a choice then the embryo will not implant.
[Yes, I am disgusted … and, good luck with these dentiststs … !]
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I call bullshit on this theory. I see enough of my patients when they’re pregnant and with proper care and effort they don’t have to loose any teeth.
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Which theory?? I had a tooth removed this week. That’s no theory, that’s actual practice. 🙂
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sounds like a nightmare.
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You have no idea. My mouth became covered with infected ulcers on the inside. And I can’t take anti-biotics or anything else for that matter.
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I do feel sorry for you. I had chronic fatigue syndrome for a long time, so I know what it’s like to be beneath par without any solution in sight. There are some amino acids that work on the skin, but take too many and you are likely to create an imbalance in the opposite direction.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lysine-000312.htm
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Overview:
Lysine, or L-lysine, is an essential amino acid. That means it is necessary for human health, but the body can’t manufacture it. You have to get lysine from food or supplements. Amino acids like lysine are the building blocks of protein. Lysine is important for proper growth, and it plays an essential role in the production of carnitine, a nutrient responsible for converting fatty acids into energy and helping to lower cholesterol. Lysine appears to help the body absorb calcium, and it plays an important role in the formation of collagen, a substance important for bones and connective tissues including skin, tendon, and cartilage.
Most people get enough lysine in their diet, although athletes, vegans who don’t eat beans, as well as burn patients may need more. Not enough lysine can cause fatigue, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, agitation, bloodshot eyes, slow growth, anemia, and reproductive disorders. For vegans, legumes (beans, peas, and lentils) are the best sources of lysine.
Uses:
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Some studies have found that taking lysine on a regular basis may help prevent outbreaks of cold sores and genital herpes. Lysine has antiviral effects by blocking the activity or arginine, which promotes HSV replication. One review found that oral lysine is more effective for preventing an HSV outbreak than it is at reducing the severity and duration of an outbreak. One study found that taking lysine at the beginning of a herpes outbreak did not reduce symptoms.
Osteoporosis
Lysine helps the body absorb calcium and decreases the amount of calcium that is lost in urine. Because calcium is crucial for bone health, some researchers think lysine may help prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis. Lab studies suggest that lysine in combination with L-arginine (another amino acid) makes bone building cells more active and enhances production of collagen. But no studies have examined whether lysine helps prevent osteoporosis in humans.
Dietary Sources:
Foods rich in protein are good sources of lysine. That includes meat (specifically red meat, pork, and poultry), cheese (particularly parmesan), certain fish (such as cod and sardines), nuts, eggs, soybeans (particularly tofu, isolated soy protein, and defatted soybean flour), spirulina, and fenugreek seed. Brewer’s yeast, beans and other legumes, and dairy products also contain lysine. Many nuts also contain lysine along with arginine (lysine counteracts some of the effects of arginine). So if someone is trying to eat a diet rich in lysine to prevent HSV outbreaks, nuts would be a good choice.
Available Forms:
Lysine is available in tablets, capsules, creams, and liquids, and is usually sold in the L-lysine form.
How to Take It:
Pediatric
Speak with your pediatrician regarding appropriate dosages. Dose is usually adjusted based on body weight.
Adult
For adults ages 13 and older: Recommendations are 12 mg/kg/day.
An example of a dose often used during an active herpes flare up is 3,000 – 9,000 mg/day in divided doses for a short period of time. To prevent recurrences, many people take 1,000 mg daily. However, dosing depends on many different factors and you should talk to your doctor to determine the right dose for your particular situation.
Precautions:
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, you should take dietary supplements under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider.
Lysine in the diet is considered safe. High doses have caused gallstones. There have also been reports of renal dysfunction, including Fanconi’s syndrome and renal failure.
People with kidney or liver disease should ask their doctor before taking supplemental lysine.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take supplemental lysine without talking to their doctor.
Possible Interactions:
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications or supplements, you should not use lysine supplements without first talking to your health care provider.
Arginine — Arginine and lysine share common pathways in the body. High levels of arginine may lower lysine levels in the body.
Aminoglycoside antiobiotics (gentamicin, neomycin, streptomycin, etc.) — Use with lysine may increase the risk of nephrotoxicity.
Alternative Names:
Amino acid K; L-lysine
Reviewed last on: 4/26/2011
Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Supporting Research
Beauman JG. Genital herpes: a review. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Oct 15;72(8):1527-34. Review.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. Rockville, MD: US Dept of Health and Human Services and US Dept of Agriculture; 2005.
Fini M, Torricelli P, Giavaresi G, Carpi A, Nicolini A, Giardino R. Effect of L-lysine and L-arginine osteoblast cultures from normal and osteopenic rats. Biomed Pharmacother. 2001;55(4):213-220.
Gaby AR. Natural remedies for Herpes simplex. Altern Med Rev. 2006 Jun;11(2):93-101. Review.
Krymchantowski AV, Barbosa JS, Cheim C, Alves LA. Oral lysine clonixinate in the acute treatment of migraine: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2001;59(1):46-49.
Rakel D. Integrative Medicine, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, An Imprint of Elsevier; 2007.
Singh BB, Udani J, Vinjamury SP, et al., Safety and effectiveness of an L-lysine, zinc, and herbal-based product on the treatment of facial and circumoral herpes. Altern Med Rev. 2005;10(2):123-7.
Tfelf-Hansen P. The effectiveness of combined oral lysine acetylsalicylate and metoclopramide in the treatment of migraine attacks. Comparison with placebo and oral sumatriptan. Funct Neurol. 2000;15(Suppl 3):196-201.
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I am sincerely sorry, Clarissa, but glad you can get this attended to.
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Thank you. The terror of a person who knows she can’t afford to have a dental problem is very powerful.
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About another kind of choice: http://www.alternet.org/drugs/why-cops-bust-down-doors-medical-pot-growers-ignore-men-who-keep-naked-girls-leashes
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Congratulations, dear Clarissa!
I found out right now about your pregnancy.
Be in good health!
Maybe, the cheappest way to treat your teerh is to go to Russia or Ucraine.
It’s really so.
I agree with you on all points, there is a robbery.
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Thank you so much, my friend! 🙂
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Seen another pretty boy’s name: Patrick.
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That’s only for Irish people. 🙂
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