Pregnancy & Gum Disease

Pregnancy & Gum Disease

By Margaret Gaia

It has been said that is mothers had gum disease their babies have four times the changes of experiencing gum disease as well.  Pregnant women who decide to receive treatment for this periodontal disease will reduce their chance of giving birth to low weight or pre-term babies.   Pregnant women should want to seek periodontal treatment as part of their treatment they seek during pregnancy.  According to Time Magazine, pre-term babies were reduced by sixty-eight percent when pregnant women sought out treatment for their periodontal care. 

Most women will experience some form of gingivitis during pregnancy, which typically surfaces around the second trimester.   Three fourths of pregnant women experience this during their pregnancy.  Symptoms of gingivitis are swollen gums, bleeding, and red gums. 

Pregnancy gingivitis is the most common dental concern during pregnancy.  Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone cause the gums to react differently to plaque.  This is the main cause of gingivitis, and it is said that if you have gingivitis before you are pregnant, you are most likely to experience it at a worse state when you are pregnant. 

Bacteria that causes gingivitis is uncommon in the mother’s system.  The mother’s immune system is naturally trained to warn off such disease entering into the womb yet it is possible to enter into the system.  A relaxed immune system will allow bacteria into the system, more bacteria can grow.  It then appears to target the placenta and amniotic fluid when the immune is operating below full capacity. 

In order to prevent this from happening, it is recommended to make regular visits to your dentist especially when pregnant.   Continue to make sure that you brush your teeth regularly, at least twice per day.  Lastly, a good anti-gum disease mouth wash and flossing is recommended. 

As always, see professional advice if you foresee this becoming a potential problem as with any forecasted problem during pregnancy.