One of the most common oral health problems among expectant mothers is bleeding when brushing their teeth. The question is, is the bleeding cause for concern? What should be done? Today, let's talk about your gum health during pregnancy.
If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, that is a sign of inflammation.
Elevated estrogen levels in pregnant women can increase the sensitivity of gum tissue to adverse stimuli, making them more likely to develop inflammation with even small amounts of dental plaque.
If there are no good oral hygiene habits before pregnancy, the small amounts of plaque that were not a problem before often become a problem during pregnancy. Even if the plaque was causing symptoms, they might have been minor enough not to be noticed. However, once pregnant, those symptoms can become more pronounced. The gum tissue can become very swollen and even painful in some cases. It could even cause some women to have trouble eating.
In addition, being pregnant is exhausting! As a result, many women experience reduced levels of energy, which may lead to less diligent brushing and flossing. Naturally, that will lead to more plaque accumulation and, therefore, more inflammation.
This inflammation may lead to periodontal disease and bone loss if left untreated. Once periodontal disease is present, it requires a more invasive dental cleaning called scaling and root planing. Any bone that gets destroyed can never be regenerated, so it is so important to stay current on your routine dental visits.
If your gums bleed when you brush, do not stop brushing them. Removing irritants like a plaque with daily brushing and flossing is key to keeping the teeth healthy. Also, if you have periodontal disease, get it treated as quickly as possible.
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