Pregnancy Gingivitis & Tumors
Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase your risk for developing oral health problems like gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis ( gum disease). As a result of varying hormone levels, between 50%-70% of women will develop gingivitis sometime during their pregnancy – a condition called pregnancy gingivitis.
The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy – especially the increased level of progesterone – may make it easier for certain gingivitis-causing bacteria to grow as well as make gum tissue more sensitive to plaque and exaggerate the body’s response to the toxins (poisons) that result from plaque. In fact, if you already have significant gum disease, being pregnant may make it worse.
Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease in Pregnancy
Usually, gum inflammation appears between the second and eighth month of pregnancy. Signs of pregnancy gingivitis range from redder looking gums that bleed a little when brushing teeth, to severe swelling and bleeding of gum tissue.
Tips to Prevent Pregnancy Gingivitis
First, to prevent pregnancy gingivitis it’s especially important to practice good oral hygiene habits, which include brushing at least twice a day, flossing once a day, and using an antimicrobial mouth rinse. If you are due for a professional cleaning, don’t skip it simply because you are pregnant. Now more than ever, professional dental cleanings are particularly important.
Gum Disease and Premature Birth
At least a couple of major studies have shown that there is a link between gum disease and premature birth. Researchers of one study who published their results in The Journal of the American Dental Association found that pregnant women with chronic gum disease were four to seven times more likely to deliver prematurely (before gestational week 37) than mothers with healthy gums.
Mothers with the most severe periodontal disease delivered the most prematurely at 32 weeks. The researchers’ study did not address if treating gum disease would reduce the risk of preterm birth, adding that more studies need to be conducted to answer this question. Their main findings, however, support the results of another study that also showed that premature, underweight babies were born more often to mothers with gum disease.
Pregnancy Tumors
Sometimes a large lump with deep red pinpoint markings on it forms on inflamed gum tissue, usually near the upper gum line. The red lump glistens, may bleed and crust over, and can make eating and speaking difficult and cause discomfort. These growths are called pregnancy tumors and can occur at any time during the course of pregnancy, though they usually occur during the second trimester.
Don’t let the term, pregnancy “tumor” worry you. These growths are not cancerous nor can they be spread to others. A pregnancy tumor is an extreme inflammatory reaction to a local irritation (such as food particles or plaque). The tumors occur in up to 10% of pregnant women and often in women who also have pregnancy gingivitis.
Pregnancy tumors are also known by several other names including pyogenic granuloma, granuloma of pregnancy, lobular capillary hemangioma, and pregnancy epulides.
Treatments for Pregnancy Tumors
Pregnancy tumors usually disappear on its own after the baby’s birth. However, if the tumor interferes with eating, your dentist or a specialist may choose to remove it. This involves a simple procedure performed under local anesthesia. It should be kept in mind that even if the tumor is removed during pregnancy, it redevelops in about half the cases. If the lump is not removed, your dentist will try to determine the possible cause that triggered the tumor’s development – such as built up plaque – and remove it.
You can help prevent or reduce the likelihood that a pregnancy tumor will develop by following good oral hygiene habits at home (brushing twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing once a day, using an antimicrobial mouth rinse) during your pregnancy.
To read more about gingivitis and related topics, visit http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/pregnancy-gingivitis-tumors
Tags: gingivitis, periodontitis, pregnancy, treatment, tumor
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.
I know what I am talking about cause I am pregnant myself and am suffering from most of the conditions and consequences of gingivitis mentioned here. Which part do your disagree with?
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
Yes you can quote my post in your blog. Delighted to hear that you like my blog. No Twitter account so far.
Of course, what a great site and informative posts, I will bookmark this site and come back for more usefull articles. Regards. Alex
I have been a reader for a long while, but am a first time commenter. I just wanted to let you know that this has been / is my favorite post of yours! Keep up the great work and I’ll keep on checking back. If you’d be interested in swapping blogroll links with me, my website is MonaVie Scam.
I like this site, very well organized, with good content. I’ll definitely check back in…Thanks
I want to thank the blogger very much not only for this post but also for his all previous efforts. I found the9months.com to be very interesting. I will be coming back to the9months.com for more information.
Really superb post. I have to agree mostly but there are still some points i don’t agree with you on this sorry.
Nice blog!
Of course, what a great site and informative posts, I will add backlink – bookmark this site? Regards, Reader.
thanks !! very helpful post!
Great Post. Really it will help lot of people. Thanks for the post.
I really enjoyed reading the articles on this website.
Wow, precisely what I used to be searching for! I am often scouring Google trying to find items and We have been in search of over an hour and I finally identified what I’m seeking! Your weblog has certainly created me genuinely happy. So I have bookmarked your page and I’ll undoubtedly return later on.
This is a great post you have written. Having this information will prove to be very useful going forward. Thanks
It is good to have the opportunity to read a good quality article with useful data on topics that a lot are interested on. The reason that the data written are all first hand on real experiences even help more. Continue doing what you do as we love reading your work.
Thanks friend. Good article. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing, I will bookmark and be back again
You hit the nail on the head with that one, awesome read! Keep up the good work
This looks really cool.
Nice idea .. Nice idea ..
One again, your articles is very good.thank you!very much.
thanks!You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog
Thanks, you guys explained everthing I needed to know and very quicly 10 out of 10!
I have been looking looking around for this kind of information. Will you post some more in future? I’ll be grateful if you will.
It was very helpfull thank you so much for sharing. I will share it with my friends. Thanks
What a fantastic article,and the blog theme is so Beautiful,could you tell me where can download this theme.
Great blog article.Thanks Again. Cool.
I thought it was going to be some boring old post, but it really compensated for my time. I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.
Artistically done is well-advised b wealthier than extravagantly said.
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!
I would like to express my appreciation for your post. That’s really great to know that there are such people like you who do their job very well and with such enthusiasm.
You can really see your passion in the pieces you write. The world needs more passionate bloggers like you who aren’t scared to say how they feel. Always go after your heart.
Been searching for awhile for something like this great info very useful.
Great post thx a lot !
Wow..very good…Nice blog and well updated…
I found this good information and I would like to show it on my website.
Hi! I simply wanted to say your web site is one of the nicely laid out, most inspirational I’ve come across in quite a while. Thx!
Quite possibly the most succinct and also informed tips I recently found for this subject. Indeed happy that I uncovered that article by accident. I’ll be signing up to your feed to ensure I can get the current posts. Appreciate all the details here.
Very informative post.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
That is pretty interesting. It gave me several ideas and I’ll be posting them on my website soon. I’m bookmarking your site and I’ll be back. Thank you again!
Thanks for the interesting content!!!
Great text and nice blog.
Can you provide more information on this? take care
I have to state, you chose your words well. The ideas you wrote on your encounters are well placed. This is an incredible blog!
Such an informative site thanks for this information.
I found your site when i was searching Google for websites related to this article. I have tell you, your site is good. I like the design too, its nice. I don’t have much time at the moment to fully read your site but I have noted it and I also registered for your RSS feed. I will be back in a day or two.
Interesting blog. It would be great if you can provide more details about it. Thanks a lot!
I like this post. I wasnt really seeking for your site to tell you the truth but i somehow found it and i gotta say I have no regrets about it. Please keep producing wonderful content such as this blog entry. Much appreciated.
I enjoyed reading your blog ~ thanks for posting such awesome material.
Thanks for appreciating the work