Gum Problems During Pregnancy - What You Need To Know

Pregnancy as such doesn’t directly cause any gum problems, but some hormones produced during pregnancy can lead to a few issues. These gum problems not only affect you but can also affect your unborn baby.

Pregnancy Gingivitis

Gingivitis is an infection and inflammation of the gums. For many pregnant women, this condition increases during the second and third trimesters and decreases by the ninth month. If you’ve had healthy gums before pregnancy, then your chances of contracting pregnancy-related gingivitis go down.

Causes of Gingivitis

Poor oral hygiene

Viral and fungal infections

Certain medication

Genetic factors

How to identify gingivitis?

Your gums are puffy, with increased redness and they bleed easily. A large amount of plaque is accumulated near the gum line.

Check with your dentist for better diagnosis and estimation of your gingivitis. Your dentist will help you in treating gingivitis before it turns into periodontitis.

Periodontitis

Untreated gingivitis leads to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. This not only affects your gums, but it also destroys your underlying bone tissue, making the teeth loose and they may eventually fall off if not treated.

Why does the gum diseases worsen during pregnancy?

The increased secretion of progesterone and oestrogen during pregnancy may cause the gums to swell, redden and bleed as a response to even a small amount of plaque accumulation.

Untreated Periodontitis during pregnancy can lead to

Premature delivery

Low-weight baby

Underdeveloped baby

Pre-eclampsia

Miscarriage

Stillborn baby

Pregnancy Gum Tumor

This non-cancerous tumour is generally harmless. It’s in the form of a small bump that’s mostly seen near the gum line and bleeds easily. It may vary in size from a few millimetres to an inch.

The cause can be poor oral hygiene, trauma and hormonal changes during pregnancy. The tumour shrinks by itself after pregnancy.

Prevention

Before planning your pregnancy, get treated for gingivitis or any other oral problems

Maintain good oral hygiene before, during and after pregnancy

Visit your dentist regularly

Consume foods rich in vitamins like C and B12

Including fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet

Don’t worry

Having a gum disease doesn’t automatically mean that you and your baby are at risk. By regularly visiting your dentist throughout pregnancy, you can reduce any complications that may arise due to dental problems.