possible pregnancy issue?

vlagrl29 · July 2010

I was brushing my teeth last night and noticed a little recession in my lower gums that I had never seen before and I have good hygiene with brushing twice a day and flossing. I guess I will be calling the dentist on monday to get in so someone can look at it. Kind of makes me nervous. Does anyone have this too?

jteneback · July 2010

I went to the dentist yesterday and they gave me a little booklet amount pregnancy and dental health. It talked about pregnancy gingivitis and a link to prematurity - You are definitely doing the right thing by calling!

de*30*boston · July 2010

this was one of the first signs for me that i was pregnant. i floss twice a day and brush my teeth 3 times a day so i was surprised to see that my gums were inflamed, especially around the gum line.

i told me doctor and she said it's a symptom of pregnancy.

vlagrl29 · July 2010

so how do you get rid of it? My husband said that they can give you medicated mouthwash.

Asia09 · July 2010

I am a dental hygienist so let me explain:

During pregnancy since your hormones are all over the place, your gums can be affected. However, most of the time they will be puffy, bleeding easily, sore and/or sensitive. The recession is more from either brushing too hard for a long period of time (over a long period of time), clenching/grinding your teeth, or having tissue that pulls your gums a little down (most of the time this is in the anterior front teeth). There really is no 'cure' for the recession - since if the recessions is very bad then you can have gum surgery which is intense and that does not guarantee that the gums will stay in that place. But, what you can do it help it from getting worse. First, gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush, brushing hard damages your gums and teeth and angle the brush at a 45 degree towards the gums in slow soft back and forth motions.I also recommended an electric toothbrush (not a battery powered one - those can actually cause more damage since the bristles are harsher on the gums) but a Sonicare or Oral-B electric toothbrush are the best - they are pricey but definitely worth the investment. Remember to replace your brushes or brush heads on the electric toothbrush every 3-4 months!!!

For the swelling/ soreness/ bleeding of gums that is caused by pregnancy gingivitis from pregnancy hormones. Basically keep brushing at least 2x/day for 2 minutes and daily flossing and go for your regular 6 month recalls for cleanings and exams. Just think about this plaque which is bacteria and by-products is in your mouth and so it can travel throughout your whole body, so you want to keep your month as clean as possible for both your and your baby. As for a medicated mouthrinse I would advise against using this during pregnacy or breastfeeding - since it contains chemicals that you don't want your baby to get.

I hope this helps!!! Good Luck!!!

vlagrl29 · July 2010

that does help thanks, my DH has one of those electronic brushes, I've been using the soft bristle one with the sensitive toothpaste. My dentist has always said it was because I had braces as to why i had some recession. i don't have any bleeding yet. maybe I've had i for awhile and just now noticed.

Asia09 · August 2010

You are correct braces can cause some recession as well ... sorry forgot about that one

If your DH has an electric toothbrush you can use his unit just get your own brush head, you can tell them apart since they have color rings to distinguish which one is yours.

Good Luck!!!

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