Any time your gums are bleeding, it’s cause for concern. However, most women don’t realize that this occurrence is fairly common during pregnancy. In fact, nearly half of all women will experience bleeding gums when they’re in the family way.
This is due to a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis. What is pregnancy gingivitis? Should you be worried? Can it be treated, or even prevented? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Pregnancy Gingivitis?
As you probably know, pregnancy can wreak havoc on your hormones, and this can lead to a number of changes in your body. You might be surprised to learn that your hormones can affect your gums, though.
In fact, the progesterone in your body can increase the growth of bacteria in your mouth that is responsible for the formation of plaque. In addition, it can cause your gums to become more sensitive to the plaque that develops. This can result in mild to severe gingivitis.
What are the symptoms?
There are several symptoms associated with pregnancy gingivitis, ranging from mild redness and swelling to severe discomfort and bleeding. Less common is the growth of benign (non-cancerous) nodules, or pregnancy tumors, that may cause discomfort and bleed during brushing.
Your symptoms should disappear following childbirth, but naturally you’ll want to take steps to prevent symptoms if at all possible, or at least alleviate the condition should it occur. There’s a lot you can do.
How Can I Protect My Gums?
The best way to protect the health of your gums is to take good care of them by brushing, flossing, and rinsing after meals, as well as scheduling regular dental visits to receive professional assessment and care. If you have poor oral health or gingivitis prior to becoming pregnant, there’s a good chance pregnancy will make it worse.
It is therefore imperative to address oral health issues prior to pregnancy, or at least once you know you’ve conceived. What if your oral health is great before pregnancy and you’re diligent about dental care?
With proper oral care, you may never develop pregnancy gingivitis. If you do, however, it’s best to consult with your dentist about treatment options. Extra dental visits may be necessary until after childbirth.
If you develop pregnancy tumors and they impair your ability to eat, speak, or function, you can have them removed under local anesthesia, although you may want to treat the symptoms first (often plaque and bacteria) and wait for them to disappear following childbirth.
