Glowing skin, shiny, thick hair … and bleeding gums. Ah, pregnancy hormones you really know how to confuse a mumma. Seeing a pinkish tinge when doing the rinse and spit, or spots of blood during the after-brush smile is really common during pregnancy, and so are loose teeth.
Pregnancy hormones running riot play inflame gums. Your mouth may also be dry, and those sweet food cravings and morning sickness also give dental health a big kick in the teeth.
Here’s what you need to know about why your gums are bleeding.
Bleeding gums during pregnancy
Battling with morning sickness and food aversions means even brushing teeth is enough to make breakfast pay another visit. But it’s super important to keep up with oral hygiene or risk getting ‘pregnancy gingivitis’.
If plaque isn’t given the flick, pregnancy gingivitis can creep up making gums bleed. Couple that with a leap in hormones and it’s a recipe for a funky mouth. You might even notice your teeth feel a bit loose but there’s no need to freak out. It’s just temporary and happens because the ligaments and bones that support teeth loosen in pregnancy.
How to prevent pregnancy gingivitis
It’s simple – keep teeth clean. If you’ve been sick (thanks morning sickness), rinse your mouth straight away and then 30 minutes later brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Try using a soft-bristle toothbrush with a small head if your usual brush is hurting, and keep up the flossing. Also, make sure you’re eating well, and getting vitamins C and B12 to keep teeth strong.
If your mouth is irritated, rinse with salt water (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water). Also, make sure you visit your dentist early on in your pregnancy to get a clean and check-up.
Read next …
Now that’s done and dusted, be sure you take a look at the other strange pregnancy symptoms that are perfectly normal:
- What’s causing the metallic taste in my mouth?
- Why can’t I fit into my shoes now that I’m pregnant?
- What’s the deal with all the drooling during pregnancy?
If you have more questions, why not join one of the closed Mum’s Grapevine pregnancy groups on Facebook? You can talk 24/7 with thousands of other mums all due around the same time as you.
Click below and join your group today!
