Bleeding Gums during Pregnancy Could Mean Trouble
Contrary to the general opinion, pregnancy is not a pathological condition but a physiological condition that all women’s body is designed to pass through. There are a lot of physiological or pathological complications that come with pregnancy. There is special treatment used for treating pregnancy-related conditions due to the risk of harming the fetus.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause a lot of physiological changes and symptoms in a human body during pregnancy. There are different symptoms a pregnant woman experience during gestation such as I nausea, vomiting, bleeding gums, pica ( the urge to eat un-edible things such as paper, charcoal).
There is no reason to fear if you see some drops of blood on your brush during pregnancy because bleeding gum is one of the physiological response to pregnancy. It becomes pathological when you lose a lot of blood volume and experience symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, and unconsciousness.
About 50 percent of pregnant women experience bleeding gum during gestation after brushing or glossing. Some women experience some harmless and painless dental nodules or tumors called Pregnancy tumor or pyogenic granuloma. These tumors are not location specific and appear in many parts of the body. The most frequent site for this pyogenic granuloma is the mouth. The size of these tumors varies in size and can be three-quarter of an inch in size and often deliver immediately after delivery. These tumors can be surgically removed if you feel inconvenient or when your feeding habits and lifestyles are interrupted.
Bleeding gum in moderation is not a pathological symptom or a cause of concern during pregnancy, It is a physiological and normal occurrence in most pregnant women. If you are bothered or concerned about it, it is advisable to practice some basic dental hygiene rules while pregnant to minimize the bleeding.
Why Do I have Bleeding Gum during Pregnancy?
Bleeding gum is due to pregnancy gingivitis (inflammation of the gingiva during pregnancy) which occurs due to fluctuating hormonal changes during pregnancy. The inflamed gingiva becomes more susceptible to various types of infections especially bacterial infections which are characterized by swollen and tender gums. The inflamed gums have increased the tendency to bleed during flossing and brushing. Now when you see some drops of blood while brushing or flossing, you can identify the etiology which is inflammation.
Complications of Bleeding Gum
In some cases, bleeding gums could lead to some complications such as periodontitis. The best way to avoid this complication is to ensure proper dental care and hygiene pre-delivery, intra delivery and post-delivery. Periodontitis could be very dangerous for both the mother and the unborn baby. This complication has been discovered to be the primary cause of low bought weigh, pre-eclampsia and premature delivery.
How to Prevent Bleeding Gum
There are different safety precautions that could be applied for the prevention of bleeding gums. Most people often take the bleeding for granted and increases the risk of various types of complications for both them and their baby. Some of the most efficient dental hygiene and prevention rules include:
- The frequency of Brushing: Brushing gently with a soft brush for a minimum of 2 times a day could reduce the pressure on the gum which is responsible for bleeding. It is advisable to brush with dental approved toothpaste and brush. Flossing for at least once a day would also help in preventing gingivitis.
- Dental Checkup: Frequently visit your dentist during pregnancy for a medical checkup to ascertain your dental health. If you notice any unusual symptom or bleeding while brushing, contact your nearest dentist to be safe.
- Dietary changes: SugaryProducts would become sticky to the teeth and make you susceptible to dental plaques and bacterial.Sugary foods and sweeteners such as juice, soda, and soft drinks could predispose you to gingivitis. These sugary foods can be replaced with vitamin c and calcium-rich foods and drinks that enhance teeth growth and strength.
- MouthWash: Consistent use of fluoridated mouthwash can help in preventing pregnancy gingivitis and pyogenic granuloma. It is better to use an alcohol-free mouth rinse during pregnancy to prevent harming the fetus.
- Treat Underlying Dental Problems: Pregnancy often complicates any underlying disease especially dental disease. It is medically advisable to treat any underlying dental conditions before delivery. There are different types of drug specially made for pregnant women for the treatment of various diseases without compromising their baby’s health.
Can Bleeding Gum during Pregnancy Affect My Baby
The severity of the bleeding and the dental hygiene practiced by the mother pre-gestation, intra-gestation, and post-gestation determines the safety of the baby. Pregnancy gingivitis is often harmless and painless especially when it is mild gum bleeding. This could only become harmful to your baby if you practice bad dental hygiene and the severity of the gum bleeding is high. There is no reason to be scared, more than 50 percent of pregnant women experience pregnancy gingivitis without any harm to their baby. If you are worried or concerned about your bleeding, you can consult your dentist for a regular checkup and dental advice.
When I should I call my dentist During Pregnancy
Most pregnancy bleeding and granuloma are often harmless, painless, self-limiting, and disappears after delivery.There are some specific cases when it is advisable to call your dentist immediately such as:
- A consistent Toothache: a Regular toothache that doesn’t go away easily is enough reason to contact your density. It could be dangerous if a toothache is prolonged or accompanied by bleeding gum.
- Painful Gum: This is often a symptom of dental caries or another disease which could harm your baby or other parts of the Painful and bleeding gum is enough reason to consult your dentist.
- Accompanying symptoms: If you experience bleeding gum with other accompanying dental disease symptoms such as receding gum, halitosis, and tooth loss. It is better to consult your dentist immediately.
Bleeding gum is a harmless and painless physiological symptom in pregnancy. It could pose a threat to the mother’s baby if there are other accompanying dental symptoms or bad dental hygiene. Consult your dentist for a regular checkup and keep your baby safe.
References
Colgate.com. (2018). Bleeding Gums During Pregnancy: Should You Worry?. [online] Available at: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/oral-care-during-pregnancy/bleeding-gums-pregnancy-should-you-worry-0913 [Accessed 4 Jan. 2018].
Discomforts, P. and Pains, A. (2018). Bleeding gums during pregnancy | BabyCenter. [online] BabyCenter. Available at: https://www.babycenter.com/0_bleeding-gums-during-pregnancy_217.bc [Accessed 4 Jan. 2018].
Doctor, S. (2018). 10 Best Home Remedies For Bleeding Gums During Pregnancy. [online] MomJunction. Available at: http://www.momjunction.com/articles/natural-home-remedies-teeth-gum-problems-pregnancy_0022519/#gref [Accessed 4 Jan. 2018].
Martinez, E. (2018). Bleeding Gums During Pregnancy: Should You Worry?. [online] Colgate.com. Available at: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/oral-care-during-pregnancy/bleeding-gums-pregnancy-should-you-worry-0913 [Accessed 4 Jan. 2018].
