Bleeding gums in pregnant women

The article is professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Most of the time, pregnancy does not cause discomfort to the teeth, but many changes of the body during pregnancy can indirectly affect the bleeding of the gums in pregnant women.

The cause of bleeding gums in pregnancy is mainly due to changes in the body including:
Changes in hormones: Usually in the second month of pregnancy, the amount of estrogen and progesterone hormones increases rapidly. Blood flow to the gums causes gingivitis that is worse than usual. Manifestations are toothache, bleeding gums when brushing... This phenomenon can be worse in the 7th, 8th month and gradually decreases in the 9th month of pregnancy.
Changes in calcium: The need for calcium for the fetus is very high, this can make the mother fall into a calcium deficiency, making the teeth more porous and increasing the risk of tooth decay.
Changes in nutrition: In the first months of pregnancy, morning sickness can cause vomiting, cravings for sweet and sour... more than usual, eating a lot of foods containing glucose is also one of the causes. cause high tooth decay during pregnancy.

Bleeding gums in pregnant women can be a sign of a number of oral problems such as:
Gingivitis Periodontitis Pregnancy papillomas Cavities Erosion Some other common oral problems: Dry mouth, increased salivation,...

Gingivitis is a common oral problem, accounting for 60-75% of all pregnant women with dental problems. Gingivitis can begin as early as the second month of pregnancy and tends to peak by the eighth month, presenting mainly with swollen, red, and bleeding gums, especially when touched such as brushing teeth.
Caused by the increase of the hormones progesterone and estrogen during pregnancy, which changes the bacterial flora in the oral environment. Half of these problems go away on their own after giving birth. But if left untreated, plus poor oral hygiene can cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Some cases of bleeding gums when brushing teeth, toothache is most likely caused by the roots of the teeth that have been exposed before, now mechanical effects and circulatory disorders make it worse.

Periodontitis is a more severe form of gingivitis, with destruction of the supporting structures around the teeth, leading to loose teeth and eventually tooth loss.
In addition, chemical mediators secreted during periodontitis can affect the fetus, due to the restriction of blood flow to the placenta. Therefore, if you have gingivitis, you need to treat it early to prevent it from progressing to periodontitis.

Pregnancy papillomas usually develop in the second trimester of pregnancy. About 2 - 10% of pregnant women have gestational papilloma. It's a red lump usually on the gums, can also be elsewhere in the mouth, can be prone to bleeding gums or ulcers. However, this is not really a tumor and is not cancerous in nature.
Pregnancy papillomas will usually decrease and disappear completely after delivery without treatment. However, if the lump interferes with eating, chewing, bleeds easily, or doesn't go away after delivery, you should see your doctor to have it removed.

25% of women of reproductive age have tooth decay. Tooth decay is a combination of a diet high in sugar and bacteria in the mouth that destroy tooth enamel. Initially, caries is a white spot, gradually progressing to a brown cavity. Pregnant women with tooth decay, if not treated, can lead to a root abscess, more seriously, cellulitis in the face.

In many pregnant women with vomiting, tooth enamel can be eroded because the amount of acid from the gastric juice can destroy the enamel, causing bleeding gums. To protect teeth from this impact, you should brush your teeth immediately after vomiting, and before brushing, you should rinse your mouth with a diluted soda solution and use a fluoride toothpaste.

Before pregnancy
If you have had dental problems before pregnancy, your risk of developing these diseases during pregnancy may be much higher. Therefore, women need to take care of their teeth from the time they intend to become pregnant by always maintaining good oral hygiene:
Brush teeth after eating and before going to bed, should use toothpaste contains fluoride. Use floss to clean between teeth instead of toothpicks. Periodic dental check-ups and thorough treatment of oral diseases if they have been acquired.

During pregnancy
During this period, a woman often has changes in her body, such as heartburn, fatigue and shortness of breath, changes in eating habits. Therefore, it should be noted:
You can use a bandage with toothpaste to clean your teeth and rinse your mouth with clean water because pregnant women often vomit in the first few months. Pregnancy also makes women eat erratically, many people eat more sweets than usual, so they are prone to tooth decay. Therefore, to avoid dental disease, pregnant women should try to eat foods that contain less sugar, but instead eat sweets from fresh fruits, should drink more milk, eat less salt, moderate fat. When visiting the dentist: It is necessary to inform the doctor at what stage a woman is pregnant so that the doctor can take appropriate treatment measures. Absolutely do not arbitrarily use tooth decay medicine or any medicine without the consent of the doctor. After giving birth
Do not eat foods that are too hot or too cold. Calcium is the main ingredient that helps keep teeth strong. When nursing, a mother's body calcium is concentrated in milk, so it is necessary to drink milk regularly and eat a lot of green vegetables and fruits to supplement calcium for the mother's own body and in breast milk. Newborn babies do not have bacteria that cause tooth decay, to keep children clean, adults should not kiss the child's mouth and should not offer food to the baby. You should visit your dentist every 6 months for timely detection and treatment of diseases.