Pregnancy Dental Challenges
When you’re pregnant, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important. This includes eating a balanced diet, getting exercise that’s safe for each stage of pregnancy, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol.
It’s also important to look after your teeth and gums. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect how your body responds to the bacteria in dental plaque, increasing the risk and severity of gum disease.
Pregnancy Gingivitis
Many women experience a condition called pregnancy gingivitis, most commonly during the second trimester when oestrogen and progesterone levels rise. These hormonal changes can also influence the types of bacteria in the mouth, favouring those linked with gum disease.
Gum tissue may appear red, shiny, swollen, and may bleed easily. These changes can occur even in women with good oral hygiene, although poor plaque control can make symptoms worse.
Improving oral hygiene techniques and getting professional dental care can help reduce or resolve pregnancy gingivitis. In some cases, symptoms persist until late pregnancy or after delivery, when hormone levels return to normal.
Gum Disease and Low Birth Weight
Research has found an association between gum disease in pregnancy and outcomes such as premature birth and lo-weight babies. However, studies show that treating gum disease during pregnancy does not always prevent these complications. Researchers continue to investigate the link.
Oral Health Care and Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, book a dental check-up to review your oral health. Daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste, plus cleaning between the teeth and below the gumline, helps reduce the bacteria that irritate the gums.
Adding a Waterpik™ Water Flosser to your routine is a simple and effective way to improve oral hygiene. Clinical studies show that Waterpik™ Water Flossers used alongside toothbrushing are more effective than dental floss at reducing gum bleeding and removing plaque.
Good oral health during pregnancy benefits both you and your child, setting the foundation for healthy habits throughout childhood and beyond.
➡ For NHS information, see NHS – Dental care in pregnancy.