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Pregnancy is a stage in a woman’s life that requires care and attention. With all the hormonal changes and changes they undergo during pregnancy it is normal for them to feel several things at the same time. Among all these changes and things they can have and feel is the case of gingivitis. The gingivitis during pregnancy is also known as gingivitis gravidarum, because of its appearance is very common during pregnancy.
What Is Gingivitis Gravidarum
Gingivitis is an inflammation in the gums resulting from the accumulation of plaque and for the period that these accumulations are established in the oral region. Gingivitis gravidarum is also an inflammation of the gums due to the accumulation of plaque. It takes its name, in particular, due to its constant appearance among pregnant women, who because of hormonal changes are more likely to have problems like these.
The main characteristic of gingivitis is inflammation and bleeding gums , its bleeding can be caused, for example, by the simple fact of brushing your teeth. As the region can become very sensitive and painful due to inflammation, the discomfort they cause ends up being inevitable.
Gingivitis during pregnancy can be treated and avoided with careful cleaning by the pregnant woman herself in the comfort of her home, brushing her teeth at every meal and flossing at least once a day. But be careful, the cause of gingivitis gravidarum can be either hormonal changes or bacterial plaque. Thus, your diagnosis can only be made through a consultation with the dentist.
Making an appointment with the dentist is important, as only he will actually know what is happening to your oral health, because even if you decide not to go to the dentist and choose to do oral hygiene on your own, your gums may still bleed , even if you clean your teeth correctly.
This may be due to the fact that gingivitis gravidarum does not occur as a result of bacterial plaque, but due to hormonal imbalance . That is why it is important to consult with a professional in the area, because in addition to knowing what to do, it will also prevent a possible worsening of your gingivitis, not allowing it to evolve, thus, to some more serious case.
IMPORTANT: For future moms who are already planning to have their baby, looking for a follow-up from a doctor as soon as possible to find out if everything is okay with your health is very important. In this case, looking for a dentist to know about your oral health is also, because in doing so he will soon do all the necessary procedures to avoid unwanted surprises.
Periodontal disease
Due to hormonal changes, pregnant women are more likely and vulnerable to develop periodontal disease . Gingivitis is a periodontal disease and is classified in the first level, that is, in the weakest level. It is a disease that shakes and affects both the gums and the teeth and bones that surround them.
Failure to properly treat with a specialist may contribute to the evolution of stages two and three, which are periodontitis and advanced periodontitis, respectively, with gingivitis being the first stage of this disease. For a peaceful pregnancy it is necessary and indispensable to have all the health care, not only of the teeth, but as a whole. Oral health is more than included in this care, as it does not only affect the health of the pregnant woman.
Gingivitis, if not taken care of and treated, can also affect the baby’s health , causing, for example, its premature birth and low weight. Therefore, it is important that the pregnant woman takes all possible preventive measures, because that way her pregnancy will be much more peaceful and, mainly, healthy.
Causes
The main cause of gingivitis is due to improper hygiene of the teeth , which in turn causes the accumulation of bacterial plaques. The lack of hygiene, therefore, facilitates the accumulation and appearance of a viscous and colorless film that surrounds the teeth and gums, which are plaques and tartar.
In the case of gingivitis gravidarum, in addition to these factors, there are others that can influence its appearance, such as hormonal changes.
Symptoms of Gingivitis in Pregnancy
The symptoms of gingivitis can vary, but the most common are:
- Redness
- Teeth sensitivity
- Bleeding (mainly during brushing)
- Inflamed gums
- Ache
- Mouth sores
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Gum retraction
The symptoms of gingivitis are easy to be diagnosed by the dentist quickly, as well as the person may be suspicious of whether or not they have gingivitis according to these symptoms. However, the evaluation of a dentist is important , as in addition to making an accurate evaluation of the teeth, he may request an x-ray to study the case.
The exams will detect tartar and plaque around you and, in addition, you will be able to assess if the case has evolved to periodontitis. Through the X-ray it is possible to see if the tartar and the bacterial plaques have dispersed to other places and structures of the mouth.
How to Treat and Heal?
During pregnancy, women go through a series of discomfort, sensitivity, vulnerability, among many other things. But for all of them there is always a solution, there will always be a treatment that can make women’s days during pregnancy better.
Gingivitis, on the other hand, would not be different, its treatment is simple , what you have to do is follow all the recommendations, so that your cure is faster.
For proper treatment, it is necessary and indispensable to make an appointment with a dentist beforehand, because only he will know what is best for each person, especially for a pregnant woman. The procedure consists of:
- Evaluation of teeth;
- Cleaning, scraping and polishing for complete removal of plaque and tartar from teeth;
- Instruction for correct teeth cleaning at home;
- Prescription of antibiotics.
Therefore, the treatment done correctly is very effective and your cure will be successful, but for that all these procedures will have to be followed to the letter. With the right treatment, gingivitis can be cured in a few months or even weeks, as each case is different and each person reacts differently to a treatment.
IMPORTANT: When looking for a dentist it is very important to keep you informed of your pregnancy, as this way you will not run any risk of taking any medication not indicated for pregnant women.
Prevention
Better than treating a disease is to prevent them, thereby avoiding uncomfortable and painful treatments and procedures. Some of them can be prevented, and if there is no way to avoid them, at least early diagnosis allows greater chances of a successful cure.
Gingivitis in pregnancy or gingivitis gravidarum, in turn, is no exception. Its prevention consists of:
- Correct oral hygiene
- Brush your teeth at least three times a day, or with each meal
- Flossing
- Go to the dentist periodically
- Make use of mouthwash, preferably without alcohol
- Avoid foods that contain a lot of sugar, or at least reduce your consumption
- Do not smoke
These tips are important for the care of a woman’s oral health in general, mainly because it prevents the appearance and discomfort of having gingivitis during pregnancy. That is why it is important to emphasize the importance of the dentist for more effective prevention, because if a case of gingivitis is diagnosed during pregnancy early on, he will guide you better and even treat you so that you do not develop into periodontitis .
See Also: Toothache in Pregnancy, What to Do? How to Relieve?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
