Oral health & Pregnancy
Oral health & Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time when women have special health needs. Oral health needs also change during pregnancy when teeth and gums meed extra care.
During pregnancy your teeth and gums may be affected by your pregnancy, just as other issues in your body are. If your gums are in good health before you get pregnant and you clean your teeth well, you are less likely to have problems.
Gum disease
Oral tissues may show an exaggerated response to bacterial plaque during pregnancy due to increased levels of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones may affect your immune response to bacteria and favor bacterial growth. Therefore you may experience more gum problems at this time.
Gingivitis
Pregnant women may experience increased gingivitis (gum inflammation). This may be more noticeable between the second and eighth months of pregnancy and tends to subside after delivery. It is called pregnancy gingivitis. Symptoms may include redness, bleeding and swelling of your gums.
Pre-existing gum disease may worsen during pregnancy. However if you have healthy gum tissue before pregnancy, pregnancy gingivitis may be prevented with good oral hygiene due to morning sickness, which may cause aversion to the smell or taste of toothpaste, or even having a toothbrush in the mouth.
Periodontitis
In pregnant women with poor oral hygiene, pregnancy gingivitis may progress into periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease. Periodontitis is chronic and usually not a rapidly progressing disease. Hence, the destruction during nine months is mostly not severe. However, if left untreated, periodontitis can cause destruction of the gums and bone surrounding your teeth, resulting in tissue (bone and gum) loss.
Severe periodontitis (usually pre-existing) may increase the risk of:
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Preterm birth, low birth weight and pre-eclampsia
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Pregnancy diabetes