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.<\/p>\n
During your pregnancy, it is important not to neglect your own health. It is now a well established fact that gum disease<\/a> is more prevalent during pregnancy, and, in today\u2019s blog, we take a look at why that might be, and how you can prevent any gum health issues from becoming serious.<\/p>\n Hormonal changes<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Tiredness and cravings<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n