While you are pregnant you are dealing with morning sickness, nausea and tiredness, plus you are busy getting clothes for your baby, diapers, a cot, thinking about finances … and so many more things. With so much to think about, from stretch marks to nutrition, it’s easy to neglect your teeth when you are pregnant.
But what many women do not realise is that the hormones flooding your body during pregnancy – particularly progesterone – can cause your teeth to be more sensitive to plaque. And this can raise your risk of gum disease and even tooth loss. In the past, there was nothing much you could do about this problem – which is why there are old sayings like “A woman loses a tooth for every child”.
The further you go in your pregnancy, the more vulnerable your gums become to the plaque and bacteria that are naturally in your mouth. Dentist Dr Robert Hirsch explains, ” Especially in the last trimester, if you have a little bit of plaque, your teeth and gums can react badly. They can become red, inflamed, and bleed when you brush your teeth. When people see that blood it can put them off brushing, and the plaque gets worse.”
If gum inflammation is not treated properly it can cause the more severe problem of periodontitis, or gum disease. “This destroys the gum and teeth, and can also damage the underlying bone in the jaw,” explains Dr Hirsch. “And if women have this gum disease problem during pregnancy there is some evidence that they can also end up with premature birth and a baby with lower birth weight. Periodontitis has also been linked to a higher risk of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.”