You may wonder why I am having bleeding or sore gums
after becoming pregnant. Well many women either develop
problems with gums and teeth or their condition worsens
during pregnancy. Gingivitis during pregnancy hits
women more often during the first trimester itself
and it may worsen and continue being a problem even
after delivery.
Essentially gingivitis is inflammation of
the gums. It is the mildest form of gum or
periodontal disease. Gingivitis becomes apparent when
healthy pinkish gums turn reddish and may bleed when
you brush or floss. It is thought to be a result of
plaque accumulating in the teeth and gum areas. Plaque
contains bacteria from our saliva mixed with residues
from sugar and carbohydrates from the food we eat.
Over time this gelatinous substance called plaque
hardens into brittle, stubborn substance called tartar.
The symptoms include swelling, gums that easily
bleed and some amount of puffiness and redness in
the gum area. A little gap known as gingivital
pocket may also develop between the gum and the crown
of the tooth. Gingivitis is generally painless and
therefore often goes unnoticed in people who do not
go for regular dental checks. Because it goes undetected
most of the time, the problem only comes to your notice
when you experience bleeding gums made more obvious
by hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Gingivitis Causes
• It commonly occurs because of neglect. Poor
dental hygiene i.e. improper brushing and infrequent
flossing leads to accumulation of plaque on the teeth
and this eventually irritates the gums.
• Gingivitis may develop during times of hormonal
changes and that's why for some people it develops
as early as puberty. Gingivitis during pregnancy,
during periods and in women who are using oral contraceptive
pills worsen because of the changes in hormones.
• Gingivitis can also happen to people who have
poorly aligned teeth as this causes plaque to be trapped.
Gingivitis Treatment and
Prevention
• The treatment for gingivitis at the dentist
is simple. It involves scaling to remove plaque and
tartar. This should be followed up with daily home
care. If there are misaligned teeth or poor-job fillings,
your dentist will probably look into that as well
to clean out hidden plaque.
• Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing
every day at least once will keep plaque in check
and control the progress of gingivitis.
• Limit your
intake of sweets and sugary foods and drinks
• Arrange for professional cleaning once or
twice a year. During pregnancy increase the frequency
of dental visits to keep the problem at bay (every
4 months maybe).
The Final Word
Dental care becomes very important because preexisting
gum problems can worsen during pregnancy. Gum care
should be your daily business; twice a day brushing
and at least once a day flossing. Tartar control toothpastes
have not proven to be beneficial because they are
not able to attack the tartar problem below the gumline.
There is not enough backup to indicate that antimicrobial
mouthwash can cure gingivitis. So, the best way to
prevent any gum disease is to be vigilant in your
home care and to make periodic visits to the dentist
for a thorough clean.
