Teeth and Pregnancy

Mills0401 · January 2015

I had my semi-annual cleaning today. I felt like I was getting butchered. My gums were bleeding like crazy! They told me that I needed to get an electric tooth brush to use to help prevent pregnancy gingivitis. Did not even know that existed! Now my gums are a little sore, and it looks like I will have to get my wisdom teeth pulled after the baby is born. The great news that dentists give you!

Mel&John2013 · January 2015

Ick, I'm sorry! I've heard of bleeding gums in pregnancy, I can only imagine them poking around makes it that much better.

I've been living in denial and skipped my last cleaning. I'll deal with it after baby is here...hopefully I'll still have all my teeth

Buttercup509 · January 2015

All the extra hormones can cause your gums to swell and bleed. Just like they can cause a stuffy nose and nosebleeds. It is very important not to skip your cleanings during pregnancy and to practice good home care. We should all be brushing and flossing!

asglover514 · January 2015

My gums bled pretty bad my first tri. I actually go back to the dentist next month :/apparently they recommend 3 cleanings during pregnancy but I skipped my second one cause it was gonna be $80 out of pocket and it was Christmas time.

Mills0401 · January 2015

They told me to try and make sure I go to my next routine cleaning if I can. They said that for some pregnant women towards the end of the pregnancy laying in the chair is too uncomfortable. My next cleaning I will be around 33wks might just reschedule for after the birth since I know I'm going to need xrays done for the oral surgeon to determine the cost of getting my wisdom teeth out.

Mel&John2013 · January 2015

Mills0401 said:
They told me to try and make sure I go to my next routine cleaning if I can. They said that for some pregnant women towards the end of the pregnancy laying in the chair is too uncomfortable. My next cleaning I will be around 33wks might just reschedule for after the birth since I know I'm going to need xrays done for the oral surgeon to determine the cost of getting my wisdom teeth out.

The discomfort with lying in the chair was actually the reason I skipped. I was about 25 weeks when I got the reminder and already uncomfortable lying on my back. They told me to just get in after baby gets here.

Mills0401 · January 2015

That is weird!! I've never heard that @hmr110913 Does your MIL lecture you about flossing too?

Buttercup509 · January 2015

hmr110913 said:

Mills0401 said:

That is weird!! I've never heard that @hmr110913 Does your MIL lecture you about flossing too?

She doesn't really lecture us about anything regarding our teeth, other than when we miss our 6 month cleaning...... she can't really say anything to us, because she is a smoker(yuck!) and so we would just throw that back at her. :P

A smoking dental hygienist is like blasphemy. I'm a hygienist too. I don't lecture my friends and family about flossing. I just think to myself how badly they need their teeth cleaned. I have a couple friends that have so much tartar build up I can see it when they smile.

Mills0401 · January 2015

I always wondered about that....I have seen people with really bad teeth (I'm talking green looking) and always wondered if dental hygienist's cringe when they see those mouths walk into the office.

Feegan · January 2015

For the last two weeks my gums have been bleeding with each brushing despite being pretty psycho about my dental routine. I'm incredibly worried about the fate of my teeth at this point as my mother lost all hers due to calcium deficiency after her second pregnancy and was wearing dentures from age 24.

Buttercup509 · January 2015

Mills0401 said:

I always wondered about that....I have seen people with really bad teeth (I'm talking green looking) and always wondered if dental hygienist's cringe when they see those mouths walk into the office.

I enjoy cleaning a mouth like that. It's very rewarding for both the hygienist and patient.

@Feegan Are you getting enough calcium? It is very common to have bleeding gums during pregnancy. The increase in hormones causes it. Just because your gums are bleeding doesn't mean your teeth will fall out. It is important to get enough calcium though. If you have any questions feel free to pm me.

Feegan · January 2015

@Buttercup509 I would like to think I do, I switched to whole milk before I got pregnant and drink 1-2 glasses a day, on top of taking my prenatal which has it in it, and eating plenty of dairy as a whole. It it something I'm going to ask about at my next appointment though, because the fact that it's happened every day for the last two weeks has me worried. I know my teeth aren't has bad as my mother's, but I've always had cavities, no matter what I do (I don't drink soda, coffee, or wine, pretty much only water and milk, and since I got pregnant I can't stand the taste of sweets and I brush twice a day and am big on flossing because I just got done doing adult braces in the last year).

Buttercup509 · January 2015

@Feegan‌ FWIW my gums bleed when I floss and I just had my teeth cleaned last week. If you're worried, a dental visit might put you at ease. Are you due for a cleaning? Also, I read my previous post again, and I just want to make sure it's clear. Calcium is not connected to bleeding gums, it's important for strong bones and teeth. Pregnancy gingivitis, bleeding gums, is caused by the increase in hormones and is very common. After pregnancy things tend to return to normal.

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