Pregnancy hormones can cause a lot of chaos. Between the morning sickness, the weird cravings and aversions, and even the changes to your oral health, it can be a lot to handle when life is already changing so much. But if you have been diagnosed with a condition called pregnancy gingivitis, there’s no need to stress out – here’s how if you have it, you can easily protect your growing baby and your beautiful smile, too!
Why Oral Hygiene Matters in Pregnancy
The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. Thankfully, during pregnancy this schedule won’t need to be amended. However, because your body will experience many hormonal changes, your mouth is already at an increased risk of a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis, which can develop even in patients who take excellent care of their teeth and gums.
Thankfully, while it should clear up on its own after pregnancy and can be easily managed by regular brushing and flossing, closely monitoring and treating this condition with the help of your periodontist is very important, as it could still advance to periodontitis. Worse yet, more advanced stages could even affect your baby by increasing the risk of preterm birth and low birthweight.
How Your Diet Affects Your Smile
Eating a healthy diet during pregnancy benefits both you and your growing baby, but can sometimes be challenging, especially if you’re experiencing morning sickness, weird cravings, or food aversions. Thus, be sure to do the best you can and make up for any deficiencies by taking an approved prenatal vitamin. If you are still unsure if you are getting adequate nutrition, speak to your physician or OB/GYN for advice.
If you are one of the 60 percent of people who experience vomiting during pregnancy, this is another area where you should be mindful with your oral health. Because vomit often includes powerful stomach acid, it can erode the enamel on your teeth, so be sure to rinse your mouth with plenty of water, and if possible, try to wait about 30 minutes before brushing so it has a chance to re-harden without incurring damage from your toothbrush bristles.
Reduce Inflammation Safely
If you are experiencing inflammation in your periodontal tissue, you can soothe your irritated gums and keep your mouth clean by swishing a mixture of a cup of warm water to a teaspoon of table salt for a few seconds before spitting and rinsing well.
Make Dental Checkups Part of Your Wellness Routine
Although you already visit your dentist every six months for your regular checkups and cleanings, if you have been diagnosed with pregnancy gingivitis, your dentist may recommend you visit a periodontist every three months until after your pregnancy has concluded and your gums have a chance to recover.
How Do Dentists Treat Pregnancy Gingivitis?
If you develop gingivitis during pregnancy, it is important that you stay on top of your oral hygiene routine at home by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting your dentist as recommended – even if it’s more frequently than usual. In some cases, your condition may advance to a later stage of gum disease. If this occurs, you may require a more intensive treatment like scaling and root planing or laser therapy. Your periodontist will discuss which options will work best during your consultation.
Remember, even the healthiest mouths can experience hormonal changes that result in dangerous conditions like pregnancy gingivitis during gestation. If it happens to you, don’t panic- but don’t ignore it, either. Working together with your periodontist can help to keep your teeth, gums, and growing baby in great shape!
About Our Practice
At Jacksonville Dental Specialists, we are proud to help keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong throughout all the exciting stages of your life. If you are currently expecting and experiencing any of the harmful signs of pregnancy gingivitis, our periodontist can help protect your smile and reduce your risk of pregnancy complications caused by periodontal disease. To schedule a consultation for periodontal therapy during pregnancy, visit our website or call us today at 904-683-4781.