4 Ways To Prevent Pregnancy Gingivitis

Pregnancy gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and is common during pregnancy. According to the reports of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnancy gingivitis affects 60% to 75% of pregnant women. Swollen, red, puffy, tender and bleeding gums are some of the signs of pregnancy gingivitis.

It is caused by an increase in oestrogen and progesterone levels. Although these hormones help your baby grow and develop, they also cause several changes to your body and one of these changes includes increased inflammation of your gums. During pregnancy, the surge of these hormones in your body makes you more susceptible to dental problems including gingivitis. The good news is that there are ways to prevent pregnancy gingivitis.

Ways To Prevent Pregnancy Gingivitis

Thankfully, pregnancy gingivitis is relatively easy to prevent. Some of the ways to prevent pregnancy gingivitis are:

1. Practice good oral hygiene: Maintaining good oral hygiene can prevent pregnancy gingivitis. It is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day.

A toothpaste that contains fluoride provides an extra barrier of protection. You should use a soft toothbrush that won’t irritate your tender gums.

You can also make sure that you’re flossing at least once each day as it helps catch any trapped food particles and bacteria.

2. Eat a healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet during pregnancy is highly recommended for meeting the nutritional requirements of supporting life within.

It is recommended that you should eat a variety of:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Dairy products like milk, yoghurt, cheese
• Whole grains

A balanced diet will promote your gum’s health and will also make you stay healthy.

3. Gargle with salt: If you notice even a little swelling or bleeding while brushing your teeth, you can add a salt gargle to your routine.

It might reduce the inflammation from gingivitis and heal your gums. You can dilute a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and swish this mixture around in your mouth a few times and then spit it out.

4. Routine dental care during pregnancy: Routine dental care can prevent pregnancy gingivitis. Dental X-rays or any urgent procedure can be done to detect the inflammation of gums.

It is advisable to check with your obstetrician before you have your dental appointment to see if he/ she has any special precautions for you.

5. Pay attention to any changes in your gums: It is advisable to pay particular attention to any changes in your gums during pregnancy as the surging hormones put you at an increased risk of tender gums that bleed easily.

You should right away consult your dentist if you notice tenderness, bleeding, or gum swelling.
Some major medical studies have shown that there is a link between pregnancy gingivitis and premature birth. According to the researchers of a study who published their results in The Journal of the American Dental Association, expecting women with pregnancy gingivitis were at an increased risk of delivering prematurely (before week 37) and having underweight babies than pregnant women with healthy gums.