Bleeding gums are so common during pregnancy that many people believe it is normal.
It isn’t.
Pregnancy gingivitis is no different from any other type of gingivitis. Gums become red, swollen and tender because they are being irritated and damaged by bacterial plaque on the teeth. Elevated hormone levels make your body REACT more strongly to this irritation when you are pregnant – but they do not CAUSE it.
Sorry, folks, but this is another situation where it’s all down to taking responsibility for your own body. The simple equation is:
No plaque = no gum problems.
The answer, as with most things dental, is to practise meticulous oral hygiene. For a start, you need to brush thoroughly. This will increase the bleeding in the short term because the sensitized gums react to contact from the brush – but, unless you remove the plaque that is causing the problem, the situation will not improve. You also need to clean between your teeth using dental floss or interdental brushes. Your dentist or hygienist will advise you what will work best for you and devise a programme tailored to your specific needs.
It is vital that you visit your dentist regularly (whether or not you are pregnant) and respond quickly to any bleeding because periodontal problems (i.e. problems of the structures that support the teeth) are progressive. This means that they ALWAYS leave you in a worse state than you were in before the problem began. The damage may progress quickly or slowly – but it is permanent. So it is important to act immediately you notice that something is wrong. Time is very good at taking everything away and it doesn’t need your help, especially when you’re in the process of bringing new life into the world.