How Might Pregnancy Affect My Mouth?

Pregnancy hormones are known to wreak havoc on a woman’s entire body. This includes the mouth, where many women experience conditions such as gingivitis and tooth decay when they have had perfectly healthy teeth for their whole lives. These women, who are dedicated daily to brushing and flossing, may be unaware that problems are forming, problems that can impact their health and the health of their baby. It can be quite a surprise when they first see bright red gums or bleeding while brushing.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. It causes swollen, tender gums that easily bleed during brushing, flossing and eating. The influx of the hormones estrogen and progesterone can cause otherwise healthy gums to become inflamed. While it is not the hormones themselves causing the inflammation, the elevated level causes the gums to react differently to the bacteria found in plaque. Getting deep cleanings from a dentist will help to alleviate gingivitis, and if you are seeing signs during pregnancy, your dentist may ask you to get cleanings more often until your baby is born. Regular checkups and good dental health habits can help keep you and your baby healthy.

The bigger problem with gingivitis is that when it is left untreated, it can lead to a more serious condition called periodontal disease. The toxic bacteria that lingers in the gums eats away at the gum tissue, ligaments and bone that surround the teeth. You may notice small infected sores that develop around the tooth and in the gum line. These sores can turn into large infected pockets fairly quickly and lead to infection getting into the bloodstream.

Tooth Decay

Morning sickness can cause a lot more issues than you might expect. When you vomit, you have an increased amount of acid that enters the mouth. This acid can eat away at the enamel on your teeth causing decay. If you are unfortunate enough to have all-day sickness, you can be at an even greater risk. Pregnant women may be more prone to cavities for a number of other reasons as well.

• Pregnant women tend to eat more carbohydrates than usual and the sugars from the carbs can cause decay.
• Brushing and flossing become less of a priority. This can be due to the fact that you have morning sickness or tender gums which is a symptom of gingivitis. You could also just be really tired and would rather get five extra minutes of sleep rather than brush and floss!

Prevention is still the best way to keep from getting tooth decay. If you suffer from morning sickness, it is a good idea to repeatedly rinse out your mouth with water and brush your teeth as often as possible to neutralize the acid caused by vomiting. If brushing your teeth causes your morning sickness, try rinsing your mouth with water, brushing without toothpaste and following with anti-plaque fluoride mouthwash. Be sure to eat a well-balanced diet and stay away from unnecessary sugar as much as possible. Work on keeping your daily routine of brushing and flossing, especially before bed.

Mouth Tumors

Seeing small tumors on your gums can be pretty scary, especially during pregnancy. Most of the time, these tumors are benign and are just considered an “overgrowth” of gum tissue. These tumors are usually spotted sometime during the second trimester and will go away once your baby is born. You will most likely see the growth between the teeth and it can be caused by excess plaque and the same hormones that cause gingivitis. They will bleed easily and will have a red, raw-looking appearance.      These pregnancy tumors are rare, usually painless and although they are not cancerous, should be treated by your dentist.

Will These Issues Impact My Baby?

Unfortunately, the answer to this is yes. Women who let their condition go without treatment risk going into preterm labor and risk giving birth to babies with a low birthweight. You may be wondering how a problem with your teeth and gums could so directly impact the health of your infant. The answer is a simple chain reaction that takes place in the body. If your gums are infected, the body begins producing prostaglandins, which are natural fatty acids that are used to control inflammation and are linked to muscle contractions. Prostaglandins naturally increase during your pregnancy and are related to your going into labor at the appropriate time. If your body produces extra prostaglandins because of infection that travels through your bloodstream from your mouth to your uterus, your body thinks it is time to deliver when it actually is not. This leads to early labor and low birthweight.