Pregnancy and Oral Health
Gum disease and gingivitis can often accompany pregnancy. Many times, extra measures must be taken to ensure oral health. It is especially important to maintain good oral health during pregnancy because gum disease can cause low birth weight babies and pre-term births. Sometimes, your hygienist may find it necessary to see you more often for hygiene appointments and exams, because bacteria repopulates itself every 30 days, making it difficult to keep under control with just brushing alone.
Women often get pregnancy gingivitis caused by plaque that has not been removed or could not be removed with home care. The plaque then irritates the gums and causes an infection signified by bloody gums and tenderness. Hormone levels can often cause gingivitis during pregnancy. It may be more difficult, but it is possible to control it with the proper home care and more frequent hygiene appointments.