Dental conditions during pregnancy
Pregnancy can trigger a number of physical changes in oral health, including pregnancy gingivitis and pregnancy epulis.
Pregnancy gingivitis
Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, is very common in pregnancy. The hormonal changes that occur at this time lead to increased blood flow to the gum tissue and increased inflammation of this tissue in response to the presence of plaque.
If you have pregnancy gingivitis, your gums will appear swollen and bleed easily. The severity of the gingivitis can be minimised by greater attention to oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day with fluoride toothpaste will help reduce plaque, as will flossing after each meal.
Pregnancy epulis
Occasionally, some pregnant women will develop a localised swelling on the gum, known as a pregnancy epulis. Typically this will occur in the second or third trimester, sometimes even appearing for the first time in the final month of the pregnancy.
A pregnancy epulis will often bleed easily, and can appear very red and inflamed, however they are generally not painful. They are also not cancerous and do not have the potential to become cancerous.
Some women who have an epulis will have it removed during pregnancy, usually because of bleeding, for cosmetic reasons, or because the diagnosis is uncertain. However, if left alone, the epulis will usually regress after childbirth.
Special considerations
Special considerations regarding oral health during pregnancy include:
Nutrition
You should eat a balanced diet including sufficient quantities of calcium, protein, phosphorus, and vitamins A, C, and D during pregnancy. This is important for your baby’s dental health as well as your own.
Dental procedures
In general, any elective dental procedure should be postponed until after delivery, especially if it involves X-rays and anaesthesia.
However, a toothache should be considered a dental emergency. It is particularly important for your dentist to treat infections that can cause toothache, because these infections can potentially spread throughout the body and affect your pregnancy.
If you need to have a filling, it is important to note there is no evidence that silver fillings are linked to mercury toxicity. Nevertheless, if you are concerned about having silver fillings, there are viable alternatives.
Antibiotics
Some antibiotics are not suitable during pregnancy, including tetracyclines, which can affect your child’s developing teeth.
Therefore it is important that your doctor or dentist is always aware if you are either pregnant or possibly pregnant. There are many antibiotic options available that have been proven to be safe in pregnancy.
Last Reviewed: 17 May 2007
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