What to expect when they’re expecting

Pregnancy often brings with it changes to the body – from aches, pains and ligament stretching to increased urination, heartburn, fatigue, constipation, and nausea and sickness, amongst others. Many women also find that their oral health is affected throughout gestation – but not as a result of the growing baby taking the calcium from the mother’s teeth, as some old wives’ tales would have us believe!

Hormonal

Instead, it is hormonal fluctuations of oestrogen and progesterone and changes in normal oral flora that are to blame for the oral health rollercoaster ride for many mothers-to-be¹, resulting in what is commonly referred to as ‘pregnancy gingivitis’. Characterised by hyperaemia, oedema and bleeding, and tender gingiva, pregnancy gingivitis is thought to affect between 35% and 100% of pregnant women, with the severity usually shown to increase until the 36^th week of gestation.² Naturally, keeping detailed records of plaque scores, gingival index, periodontal pocket depth and bleeding on probing is essential during the progression of any pregnancy to ensure that gingivitis doesn’t develop into a more serious problem.