It is important to have a good oral hygiene routine during pregnancy. Hormonal changes can lead to swollen and bleeding gums from plaque build-up. Follow these tips for healthy teeth and gums.
- Brush twice daily, last thing at night and on one other occasion. Spend at least 2 minutes brushing to make sure you don’t miss where the gum joins the teeth. This is where plaque tends to sit and can cause inflammation and bleeding gums.
- Use a manual toothbrush with a small head and compact soft to medium bristles, or a powered toothbrush with a rotating head.
- Use a fluoridated toothpaste with at least 1,350ppm fluoride. You can see how much fluoride is in toothpaste by looking at the ingredients list on the box or tube.
- Spit out any foam after brushing and do not rinse with water or a mouthwash.
- If you use a mouthwash, make sure it contains fluoride and is alcohol-free (look for “AF” on the bottle). It’s best to use mouthwash at a different time of day from toothbrushing. Using mouthwash straight after brushing, like rinsing with water, washes away the fluoride left on the teeth by toothpaste, which reduces how well it protects your teeth.
- Clean interdentally using interdental brushes or floss daily. This is where food debris can collect, and your toothbrush can’t get to.
- All forms of tobacco, present a major risk to oral health. The most significant harms of tobacco is mouth cancers, periodontal diseases and tooth loss. Using an e-cigarette (vaping), is far less harmful to health than smoking. To receive support contact an NHS Stop Smoking Service, Live Life Better Derbyshire.
- Remember to pack a toothbrush and toothpaste in your hospital bag.
Morning sickness can be quite common. There are things you can do to protect your teeth during this time in your pregnancy:
- After vomiting rinse your mouth with water. This will wash the acid away which can damage teeth.
- After vomiting, your tooth enamel will be soft, try to wait an hour before toothbrushing to let your enamel re-harden.
- You may want to also use an alcohol free fluoride mouthwash after vomiting. This will help to neutralise the acids and strengthen tooth enamel.
NHS dental care is free during pregnancy and for 12 months after your baby is born.
When visiting the dentist be sure to let them know that you are pregnant. Some non-urgent work, like replacing fillings may be postponed until after your baby is born. If you need an x-ray during pregnancy your dentist will discuss this with you.
Bleeding gums
Some women get swollen and sore gums, which may bleed, during pregnancy. Bleeding gums are caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your gums more vulnerable to plaque, leading to inflammation and bleeding. This is also called pregnancy gingivitis or gum disease.