Pregnancy gingivitis is the term used to describe the gum inflammation many women get during pregnancy. The signs and symptoms are red puffy gums, bleeding and redness, combined occasionally with bad breath as well as discomfort. These symptoms are the same as any gingivitis but the difference is that the gingivitis can occur from a very small amount of plaque. In other words, this individual would probably not have gingivitis if she was not pregnant. Why does this occur?During pregnancy many hormonal changes occur which are obviously needed to produce a healthy delivery. However, some of these hormones lower a woman’s resistance to plaque, so that a level of plaque not normally a problem, may become enough to cause gingivitis. Basically, this is an exaggerated gum response.During pregnancy many hormonal changes
occur which are obviously needed to produce
a healthy delivery. However, some of
these hormones lower
a woman’s resistance
to plaque, so that a level of plaque not normally a problem, may become enough to cause gingivitis. | | Studies have shown that increased gingivitis most commonly begins during the second and third month of pregnancy and increases in severity through the eighth month and begins to decrease in the ninth month. If an individual is already suffering from gingivitis (or worse, periodontitis), before the pregnancy, this change of hormones will often aggravate the existing condition, resulting in a flare-up which often creates enormous discomfort, to an individual who is already coping with being pregnant. |
Therefore every woman who is pregnant should make sure that her oral hygiene is impeccable, which means brushing and flossing meticulously on a daily basis. This also means that you should brush more often and more diligently and keep a close watch on your diet. Furthermore, you should schedule to see your dentist during your pregnancy, in order to have the health of your dentition assessed, and to receive a thorough cleaning. There are no contra-indications to having your teeth scaled and cleaned during a normal healthy pregnancy. Your dentist will be happy to assess the health of your dentition. |
During pregnancy many hormonal changes
occur which are obviously needed to produce
a healthy delivery. However, some of
these hormones lower
a woman’s resistance
to plaque, so that a level of plaque not normally a problem, may become enough to cause gingivitis.
Therefore every woman who is pregnant should make sure that her oral hygiene is impeccable, which means brushing and flossing meticulously on a daily basis. This also means that you should brush more often and more diligently and keep a close watch on your diet.
Furthermore, you should schedule to see your dentist during your pregnancy, in order to have the health of your dentition assessed, and to receive a thorough cleaning. There are no contra-indications to having your teeth scaled and cleaned during a normal healthy pregnancy. Your dentist will be happy to assess the health of your dentition.