During pregnancy, the gums are also "bombarded" by the high levels of progesterone, the hormone that blocks ovulation, creating problems for pregnant women.
Progesterone also has a pro-inflammatory action, so it predisposes to the appearance of gingivitis, that is an inflammation of the gums, the bleeding of which is the characteristic symptom of this condition.
Furthermore, the hormonal interactions of pregnancy promote an increase in periodontopathogenic species, weaken the immune defenses, acidify saliva and increase vascularization at the gingival level. For this reason, during gestation it is not uncommon to notice changes in the color of the gums from pale pink to dark pink; gums that in pregnant women tend to appear even more swollen and predisposed to bleeding. To make matters worse, there is also the tendency to consume small and frequent meals, often sweet, either to counteract the sense of nausea, or because of the typical "birthmarks" of pregnancy.
It is no coincidence that there is a saying that every child would cost a tooth to his mother.
Beyond the ways of speaking and this natural predisposition to gingivitis, it is necessary to specify that hard gums hardly get to bleed during pregnancy. When pregnant women notice bleeding while using a toothbrush or dental floss, it most likely means that the gums were somehow predisposed before pregnancy; in essence there already existed some basic inflammation that was amplified by hormonal changes.
In the case of bleeding gums in pregnancy it is therefore important to have a dental examination, for professional hygiene and to receive advice on proper oral hygiene at home. This recommendation becomes even more important considering that in the literature there are many studies showing a significant correlation between gingival - periodontal pathologies and gestational complications such as premature birth. For example, we have seen how a pregnant woman with periodontitis has a 7.5 chance more than the average, of giving birth to a premature and underweight baby.
