Essential Things You Need to Know about Oral Health and Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes significant changes that affect not only your body but also your oral health. Understanding these changes will help you maintain a healthy mouth.

Pregnancy Gingivitis

Hormonal changes increase the sensitivity of your gums to the bacteria that cause gingivitis or gum disease. You may notice your gums are more sensitive and they might swell and bleed slightly, causing a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. To counteract this, we may suggest more frequent professional teeth cleanings and pregnancy gingivitis should clear up once your baby is born.

Pregnancy Tumours

The same hormonal changes can cause pregnancy tumours that look a little like raspberries in between your teeth. These tumours are benign so please don’t worry! If they cause you discomfort, we can remove them, but they should vanish soon after your baby is born.

Morning Sickness

Morning sickness exposes your teeth to strong stomach acid and can erode your tooth enamel. Immediately afterwards, rinse your mouth with water or with a mixture of baking soda and water which will help to neutralise the acids. Wait approximately half an hour before you brush your teeth.

If you are pregnant, please remember it’s still absolutely fine to have your routine dental checkups and cleanings but tell us your happy news so we can adjust any treatment required to ensure they are entirely safe for your baby.