ARE YOU PREGNANT?

PREGNANCY- ASSOCIATED GINGIVITIS

Congratulations for your pregnancy! This is the first huge step to parenthood, which for sure you are most anxious about, with your partner. There are many things to take note about during pregnancy. It is vital to have routine dental check up during pregnancy. One of the conditions that may present during pregnancy period is Pregnancy-associated gingivitis.  

v   Is gingival diseases associated with endocrine systems (like your hormones and byproducts etc..)

Ø  Pregnancy-related changes are most frequent and most marked in gingival or gum tissue. Pregnancy does not cause gingivitis, but may aggravate pre-existing disease. The most marked changes are seen in gingival vasculature. Characteristic of pregnancy gingivitis is that the gum is dark red, swollen, smooth and bleeds easily.

Ø  Women with pregnancy gingivitis may sometimes develop localized gum enlargements. These changes usually resolve within a few months of delivery if local irritants are eliminated.  The inflammatory changes are usually restricted to the gum and probably do not cause permanent changes in periodontal tissues more often than those in the non-pregnant state.

Laine, Effect of Pregnancy on Periodontal And Dental Health, Acta Odontol Scand. 2002 Oct;60(5):257-64.

v  During pregnancy, the inflammatory response to dental plaque is increased, leading to swollen gum which tends to bleed on brushing. Pregnancy gingivitis commonly becomes apparent later in the second month of gestation and worsens as the pregnancy progresses before reaching a peak in the eighth month. In the last month of gestation, gingivitis usually decreases and immediately post- partum, the gingival tissues are found to be comparable to those seen during the second month of gestation.

v  The pregnancy gingivitis may be localized to some teeth only or generalized to all teeth and the changes affecting the anterior teeth are most obvious despite increased amounts of plaque being associated with the posterior teeth.

Ø  This may be due to the effects of pregnancy on the gum tissues where both estrogen and progesterone receptors are found, although exactly how these hormones increase gingival inflammation is unknown.

How to treat this condition?

By going for regular dental visits for professional cleaning and routine monitoring at the dental clinic. Please do fillings, scaling or extractions during your second trimester period. This is to eliminate any factors that may compromise the removal of plaque, for example overhanging restoration margins, open caries etc... This should be carried out so that plaque levels can be minimized. Educate yourself regarding both the etiology and prevention of the pregnancy related gingivitis.