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If you're pregnant, you may have noticed that your gums are more sensitive. If you have swollen, red, and tender gums that bleed when you floss or brush your teeth, this is a sign of pregnancy gingivitis – a common pregnancy complaint. About 50 percent of all expectant mothers experience sensitive and inflamed gums.
You can blame the levels of progesterone in your body for this mouth change. Progesterone, a hormone which helps support your pregnancy, has unpleasant effects in your mouth. For one, progesterone may make it easier for gingivitis-causing bacteria to grow in your mouth. Second, this pregnancy hormone makes your gum tissue more sensitive to plaque, and it also exaggerates your mouth's response to plaque. All of these changes contribute to your gums being more sensitive during pregnancy, and they make pregnant women more prone to developing gingivitis. | | Tip:
If your regular toothbrush is hurting your gums, consider switching to a softer brush. This may make brushing your teeth more tolerable in pregnancy. | | |
Even though your gums may be more sensitive, and they may even bleed when you brush, it's very important for you to continue to brush your teeth on a regular basis. Because build-up of plaque is the direct cause of gingivitis, you can reduce the damage by maintaining good oral hygiene – such as proper brushing and flossing.
If you don't maintain good oral hygiene, pregnancy gingivitis can lead to a gum disease called periodontitis. This dental disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth and forms "pockets," which can get infected. Your immune system fights the bacteria, as plaque spreads below the gum line. When this "fight" occurs, the immune system will actually break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. As a result, your teeth may fall out.
Not only can periodontitis make you loose your teeth, but some experts believe that this serious gum disease may lead to premature birth, low birth weight babies, and other pregnancy complications. To protect your baby, you need to take good care of your teeth during pregnancy.
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Schedule a professional dental cleaning in the second trimester. The first trimester is usually not a good idea, because you're struggling with fatigue and morning sickness. In the third trimester, your fatigue and huge belly may make getting around more of a challenge. | | |
It's very important that you don't delay getting dental work until after your baby is born. Forty weeks is a long time to wait, and gingivitis and gum disease only gets worse the longer that you wait. When you get a dental exam or dental work done, always let your dentist know how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Contact your dentist's office immediately if you notice that your gums are bleeding quite a lot or they are painful, if you notice a lump or growth in your mouth, or you lose a tooth or you have pain in a tooth. You want to take care of these problems right away, since decaying teeth can lead to infections that can hurt your developing baby. |
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