Pregnancy and Oral Health
Pregnancy comes with a whirlwind of changes for a woman’s body. In addition to swollen ankles, weight gain, and aches and pains, pregnancy can lead to dental problems in some women, including periodontal disease and an increased risk of tooth decay. During pregnancy, your hormones will affect your body’s response to dental plaque. To avoid gingivitis during pregnancy, it’s best to schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul Bernstein of Bernstein Dental Care. The hormonal changes during pregnancy change the body’s natural response to dental plaque exaggerating the way gum tissues react to the bacteria in plaque, resulting in a higher chance of pregnant women getting gingivitis. If pregnant, you may also develop a benign nodule on your gums that bleed when you brush. This relatively rare nodule is called a pregnancy tumor – but don’t worry, as scary as it sounds, it is harmless and usually painless. To avoid these issues, it is important for you to maintain good oral hygiene throughout your p...