Oral Health Risks During Pregnancy

Advice for mums to be from our Bedford dental team.

Finding out that you are expecting a child is usually a time for celebration. Although there can be challenges along the way, the thrill and expectation of adding a new member to the family can be very exciting indeed.

During your pregnancy, it is important not to neglect your own health. It is now a well established fact that gum disease is more prevalent during pregnancy, and, in today’s blog, we take a look at why that might be, and how you can prevent any gum health issues from becoming serious.

Hormonal changes

The changes in hormone levels during pregnancy are thought to be one of the main reasons behind the increased risk of gum disease during pregnancy.

Increased plaque levels are common, and, if left uncontrolled, can soon start to cause problems. Whilst this can largely be controlled by paying attention to our brushing and interdental cleaning such as flossing, we strongly recommend that expecting patients also visit the hygienist at our Bedford practice if you do not do so already. Whilst six monthly visits are normally sufficient to maintain healthy gums, we may recommend more frequent visits for the duration of your pregnancy.

Tiredness and cravings

Feeling tired and craving unusual food combinations is all too common during pregnancy. This can have implications for your teeth and gums too. Feelings of extreme tiredness in the evening may tempt us to crawl into bed without cleaning our teeth. Although we can understand this feeling, it really is important to spend just those two minutes or so, especially at night, as food particles left in the mouth provide an ideal environment for ‘bad’ oral bacteria that can contribute to gum disease.

Tiredness, combined with food cravings may also lead to an increase in the amount of sweet and starchy foods that you eat. Aside from the increased risk of tooth decay; again, this increases the chances of gum disease.

Warning signs

We recommend that you don’t wait until you notice any symptoms and maintain regular appointments with your Bedford dentist during your pregnancy. If you do notice any of the following symptoms though, please contact us straight away for an appointment.

  • Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth
  • Tender, red or sore gums
  • A persistent unpleasant taste in your mouth
  • Halitosis (bad breath)

These are all potential signs of gingivitis or periodontitis and should certainly not be ignored. Providing that you do not delay seeking an appointment, treatment for gingivitis is relatively straightforward, using ‘scale and polish’ procedures to rid your teeth and gums of hardened bacterial deposits (tartar). You may also be advised of ways to improve how your look after your teeth and gums.

If you are pregnant and have not seen a dentist, we advise that you do so as soon as possible. An early oral health check at The Dental Centre Bedford is an excellent way to make sure that you minimise any oral health problems during your pregnancy.

Please call us at our Bedford dental practice today on 01234 819868.