Gingivitis is the chronic inflammation of the soft tissues of the mouth, or the gums. This is caused by bacteria, usually streptococcus mutans, which are responsible for tooth decay and a number of other chronic illnesses. Gingivitis during pregnancy is a problem because the streptococcus can affect the development of the infant negatively. Here is how you can tell if you have gingivitis during pregnancy, and how to treat it.
Every aspect of a womanโs body changes during pregnancyย because a bunch of hormones are released, and the body is taxed extra heavily because the infant has no immune system and is dependent on her motherโs for survival. This means that with a weakened immune system, the mother is much more likely to get gingivitis, as the immune system which usually keeps the bacteria at bay is no more, and the bacteria can proliferate much more. This is what causes bleeding gums during pregnancy, which is a common problem, and which causes puffy gums during pregnancy as well.
Gingivitis cannot be treated with at-home methods, even if the outward symptoms can be minimised. You need to go to a dentist in order to get your gingivitis treated before it turns into periodontitis. Your dentist should definitely know that you are pregnant, if you are even a little unsure whether or not your dentist knows, mention the fact that you are expecting. The dentist will prescribe antibiotics, as there are some that are safe to take during pregnancy, and which do not cause any sort of problems for the foetus.
Some procedures can be done even while you are pregnant, and even if you need oral surgery, your dentist will know what to do to make sure that no materials that are harmful to the unborn are used.
It is extremely important to treat gingivitis during pregnancy and to make sure that your baby is not subjected to bacterial infections as a foetus because they can have an untold effect on the development and health of your child. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of miscarriage, and thus it is extremely important that you go and see a dentist every trimester, to make sure that everything is alright.
