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.