What to do if your gums bleed during pregnancy

From this article you will learn:

why do gums bleed during pregnancy,
what is pregnancy gingivitis,
how to carry out treatment correctly.

The article was written by a dentist with more than 19 years of experience.

Inflammation of the gums during pregnancy is a process characterized by bleeding gums, as well as hypertrophy of the gingival papillae, which occurs due to an increase in the concentration of estrogen and progesterone in the blood of a pregnant woman. This condition is usually called the term “gingivitis in pregnant women”, and according to statistics, it is observed in 75% of women - for a period of 2 to 8 months. Most often, gingivitis occurs in the area of the front teeth, and it affects only the gingival margin at the necks of the teeth (including the gingival papillae).

Clinical studies show that more than half of all women with gingivitis during pregnancy already had a mild form of chronic catarrhal gingivitis at the beginning of pregnancy, which is practically asymptomatic. Thus, an increase in the content of estrogen and progesterone in most cases led to an exacerbation of pre-existing gingivitis, and was not the root cause of its development. We will tell you more about the causes of inflammation below, because... there are other factors to consider.

Chronic catarrhal gingivitis –

But pregnant women can experience not only gingivitis, but also a more serious gum disease, in which inflammation spreads from the superficial part of the gums to deeper tissues. This disease is called periodontitis, and with it there is destruction of the bone tissue around the teeth, destruction of the dental-gingival attachment, suppuration from periodontal pockets, and over time, tooth mobility also occurs. And this disease already indirectly affects the fetus, which requires mandatory treatment.

Content:

Why do gums bleed during pregnancy?
Signs of violation
Types of gingivitis in pregnant women
How to treat bleeding gums during pregnancy
How to strengthen gums during pregnancy 5.1. Diet is the key to good health of the expectant mother and baby
Why you need to treat gum disease

Bleeding gums during pregnancy is a fairly common problem.
Most often it is associated with hormonal changes, due to which local blood supply is disrupted and vascular tone decreases. What to do if your gums are bleeding and how to prevent the development of gingivitis.
Let's talk about this in this article.

What to pay attention to

You need to understand that bleeding gums can indicate serious disorders occurring in a woman’s body. To identify pathology at an early stage of its development and quickly eliminate the causes of bleeding, you need to consult a specialist.

The first months of gestation

In the first months of pregnancy, gingivitis may develop in the catarrhal form. The area of inflammation may be limited to two or three teeth, or may spread to the entire oral cavity. The mucous membrane swells and acquires a reddish tint. The gums hurt when you press on them, that is, while brushing your teeth and chewing food. Bad breath may appear, the viscosity of saliva may change, and bleeding may occur when brushing your teeth.

Second half of pregnancy

Untreated gingivitis in a timely manner, together with concomitant reduced immunity, can lead to the development of hypertrophic inflammation of the gums. With this pathology, the gums can bleed without any impact on them, periodontal pockets increase, the gingival margin swells and can cover up to half of the tooth crown. The disease must be treated immediately.

Why do gums bleed during pregnancy?

There are several reasons for the violation:

Hormonal changes, redistribution of metabolic processes. During pregnancy, immunity usually decreases. As a result, a woman’s body becomes very susceptible to viral and infectious diseases. The structure and composition of dental plaque changes. A jump in harmful microflora in the oral cavity is recorded. If at the same time a pregnant woman does not pay due attention to hygiene, bleeding of soft tissues quickly comes to the fore. It can lead not only to inflammation of the gums, but also to the destruction of the upper layers of enamel.
Lack of calcium. This microelement is needed for the formation of the fetal skeleton. To avoid its deficiency, the expectant mother should eat properly and take a high-quality vitamin and mineral complex. If less calcium is supplied than necessary, the woman’s teeth are the first to suffer. The body gives all its reserves to the child. The first place he gets additional resources from is dental crowns. If the units begin to deteriorate, bleeding gums often occur. This is due to weakening of the dentogingival connections.
Copious deposition of soft plaque. Pathogenic microorganisms multiply in it. If the soft accumulations are not removed in time, they will harden and begin to disappear under the gums. Then the problem of bleeding will appear.

How are treatment methods chosen depending on the stage of pregnancy?

The first trimester of pregnancy is associated with the risk of spontaneous abortion, so during this period interventions should be as necessary, and the indications for them are acute pain or severe swelling of the gums. Tartar can also be removed, but it is still better to postpone this manipulation for a while. In the second trimester, you can carry out complex treatment, including professional cleaning and taking antiseptics. And in the third trimester, a visit to the dentist should be as short as possible, so you should limit yourself to only hygiene procedures.

Signs of violation

If your gums bleed during pregnancy, you can assume the presence of gingivitis. During different periods of pregnancy, this disease manifests itself in different ways. Typically a woman complains about:

inflammation and swelling of soft tissues;
bleeding even with minor mechanical stress;
feeling of constant itching;
transformation of the gingival papillae - they cease to be pointed and become dome-shaped;
pain when chewing solid foods;
elevated body temperature.

There are three forms of gingivitis:

Light. Only the gingival papillae are damaged.
Average. The inflammatory process has spread to the gums.
Heavy. The entire gum is inflamed.

The disease can affect one or more teeth, or affect the entire dentition. In any case, treatment must be carried out as soon as possible.

Types of gingivitis in pregnant women

Taking into account the dominant symptoms, the disease is classified into three types:

Catarrhal. There is abundant deposition of a yellowish coating. It can be easily removed from dental crowns. The gums swell and hurt. Blood comes out of them infrequently. If you press on the tissue, severe discomfort will occur. With catarrhal disease, the entire gingival surface is inflamed.
Hypertrophic. It appears no earlier than the twentieth obstetric week. Inflammatory reactions affect the lower jaw, tissues in the growth zone of incisors and molars. Gum pockets form. They are depressions located at the border of the gum and tooth root. The first one becomes inflamed, causing its size to increase.
Ulcerative. The most dangerous type of disease. It is the result of severe health problems. May occur starting in the first trimester. The situation is aggravated if the pregnant woman is under stress for a long time. The woman suffers from itching, burning, swelling, and extensive ulcers.

Diet of the expectant mother

For the health of the unborn child and good health, women need to monitor their diet. It is recommended to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs and vitamins.

But an excess of vitamins can be dangerous, so it is advisable to consult with your doctor and, if necessary, prescribe a suitable diet, taking into account individual characteristics.

A low-carbohydrate diet has a beneficial effect on the condition of the body as a whole. Spicy and fatty foods that can irritate the mucous membranes in the mouth should be avoided.

It is very important to compensate for calcium deficiency. Sauerkraut, blackberries, onions, kiwi, and broccoli are especially useful for ginginitis.

How to treat bleeding gums during pregnancy

Therapy for bleeding gums during pregnancy is aimed at:

elimination of symptoms of the disorder;
strengthening soft tissues;
removal of plaque and stone;
removal and prevention of further spread of the inflammatory process;
overcoming pain symptoms.

The first thing the doctor does is perform professional oral hygiene. An ultrasonic scaler is used for this. It carefully cleanses plaque from each tooth, smoothes the enamel surface and even brightens the smile by one or two shades.

After professional hygiene, the pressure of tartar on the gums is eliminated. This alone may be enough to save the patient from increased sensitivity and bleeding.

Additionally, the woman is prescribed gels, rinses, ointments or solutions designed to stop the inflammatory process and activate regeneration reactions. Most often these are compositions based on plant extracts. In any case, the dentist should select medications taking into account the “interesting” position of the patient.

What measures are prohibited during pregnancy?

Use arsenic.
Carry out dental prosthetics and teeth whitening procedures.
Use anesthesia (for pain relief, gentle agents are used that do not contain adrenaline).

Situations where doctors may forget about a patient’s pregnancy due to inattention are quite possible. Therefore, it is very important for the woman herself to monitor the actions of the dentist and specify each drug that is supposed to be introduced into her body. If the sensations are too painful, you can resort to anesthesia. The stress of a pregnant woman can cause more harm to the unborn child than the use of an anesthetic drug.

How to strengthen gums during pregnancy

To avoid unpleasant dental symptoms and have a healthy and beautiful smile during pregnancy, you must follow these recommendations:

Brush your teeth two to three times a day with a high-quality brush and toothpaste. If your gums are prone to bleeding, preference should be given to soft bristles and anti-inflammatory hygiene products.
Use floss and dental rinses that have anti-inflammatory properties.
Take a vitamin and mineral complex selected by your doctor. It will not allow vitamin deficiency to develop and will prevent calcium deficiency.
Do not eat large amounts of sweets and baked goods. Do not eat toffee or caramel.
Avoid drinking too hot or, conversely, cold drinks and foods. They worsen the condition of the enamel and irritate the soft tissues of the oral cavity.
Pay maximum attention to a balanced diet.

Diet is the key to good health of the expectant mother and baby

Let's dwell more closely on the importance of dietary nutrition. Scientists have proven that dental plaque appears many times faster if you eat a lot of sugar. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the amount of this product in the daily diet.

To maintain immunity, you should eat non-acidic vegetables and fruits. Particular attention should be paid to sources of vitamins B, D, A, ascorbic acid - broccoli, kiwi, blackberries, onions, apples, peaches, bananas, carrots, tomatoes.

Clinical researches

Analysis of the results of clinical studies revealed the significant effectiveness of Asepta products for moderate periodontitis. The use of Asepta mouth rinse turned out to be quite effective. In addition, no phenomena of mucosal irritation or brown staining of fillings were recorded. This indicates that the use of this rinse for a two-week period provides an obvious clinical effect in the absence of negative side effects.

Sources:

Study of the clinical effectiveness of treatment and prophylactic agents of the Asepta line in the treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases (A.I. Grudyanov, I.Yu. Aleksandrovskaya, V.Yu. Korzunina) A.I. GRUDYANOV, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof., Head of Department I.Yu. ALEXANDROVSKAYA, Ph.D. V.Yu. KORZUNINA, asp. Department of Periodontology, Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rosmedtekhnologii, Moscow
The effectiveness of the use of Asept “adhesive balm” and Asept “gel with propolis” in the treatment of chronic generalized periodontitis and gingivitis in the acute stage (Municipal Dental Clinic No. 4, Bryansk, Kaminskaya T. M. Head of the therapeutic department Kaminskaya Tatyana Mikhailovna MUZ City Dental Clinic No. 4, Bryansk
Report on clinical trials to determine/confirm the preventive properties of commercially produced personal oral hygiene products: mouth rinse "ASEPTA PARODONTAL" - Solution for irrigator." Doctor of Medical Sciences Professor, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Head. Department of Preventive Dentistry S.B. Ulitovsky, doctor-researcher A.A. Leontiev First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after academician I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry.

Why you need to treat gum disease

Some expectant mothers put off treatment for bleeding gums. They think that this problem can be dealt with after childbirth. This attitude towards the disease is incorrect. Only with good immunity can the body independently cope with inflammation and prevent its rapid progression. In all other cases, competent dental therapy should be carried out.

Under the influence of pathogenic microflora, which actively spreads when gingival tissue is damaged, the epithelium begins to collapse. If at the very beginning this process is reversible, then it will be quite difficult to correct the situation.

At some point, the pathogenic flora that has spread spreads to the periodontium. It gets damaged. This is manifested by tooth mobility. If you do not start treatment even with such symptoms, you can lose some units at a young age.

Doctors know of cases where the infection has affected the jaw bones. Then an irreversible change in the facial skeleton occurs, and fistula tracts are formed.

Don't start gingivitis. After undergoing professional hygiene and simple drug treatment, you will recover very quickly.