What causes bleeding gums in late pregnancy?

Every woman needs to experience pregnancy and childbirth. Generally speaking, after pregnancy, due to the influence of hormones in the body, women's bodies will undergo many changes, but most of the changes are usually normal. Many pregnant women have experienced bleeding gums. However, pregnant women often experience bleeding gums. Many pregnant women are worried that it will affect the growth and development of the baby. What is the cause of bleeding gums in the late pregnancy?

What causes bleeding gums during late pregnancy?

Hormone changes

Due to the increase of estrogen and progesterone in the expectant mother's body, the capillaries in the gums expand, bend, and their elasticity decreases, leading to blood stasis and increased permeability of the blood vessel walls, causing gingivitis. Therefore, during pregnancy, the gums become more sensitive to local stimuli, and their reaction to local stimuli is more severe than when not pregnant. Pregnancy gingivitis will worsen as the pregnancy progresses, but the symptoms will disappear on their own after delivery due to the decrease of estrogen and progesterone in the body.

[Other reasons]

Failure to master the correct toothbrushing method, selection of an inappropriate toothbrush, or irritation from residual roots and edges of sharp objects may also cause gum bleeding.

[Inadequate oral hygiene]

In addition to pregnancy reactions, the most common cause of gingival bleeding in expectant mothers is local oral factors, which is usually accompanied by bad breath.

Due to the relative deficiency of vitamins and trace elements caused by pregnancy, the secretion of saliva increases during the day and decreases at night, resulting in a decrease in the flushing effect on the oral cavity; some expectant mothers have limited mobility, brush their teeth less often, and have unclean oral cavity, so that food residues, plaque, and tartar often accumulate around the teeth, and various bacteria in the oral cavity multiply in large numbers, which can also lead to the occurrence of gingivitis. If some pregnant women already have mild gingivitis or periodontitis, when the estrogen level in their body increases, their gums will become more sensitive to the bacteria in the plaque. Symptoms of gingival inflammation and bleeding will worsen.

What should pregnant women do if their gums bleed?

[Change toothbrush] Change to a children's toothbrush with soft bristles. The brush head of a children's toothbrush is smaller, and the soft bristles can reduce the damage to the gums and effectively solve the problem of bleeding gums. If conditions permit, you may wish to purchase an electric toothbrush, which can effectively massage the gums and reduce the brushing force by about 60%, reducing the degree of gingivitis bleeding by 62%.

[Choose fluoride toothpaste] Choose toothpaste containing fluoride, but it is best not to exceed 1 cm each time, and be cautious when using fluoride toothpaste with high fluoride content or unclear labeling; some medicinal ingredients in medicated toothpaste can harm the fetus, so it is best to consult a doctor before use.

[Vertical brush method] Use the vertical brush method. Brush your teeth gently and thoroughly. Do not use excessive force. Using too much force can damage fragile gums and cause bleeding gums.

[Brush your teeth after meals] Try to brush your teeth after every meal, preferably within 20 minutes after eating or drinking. If you can't do that, brush your teeth at least twice a day.

【Use toothpicks less】Try to use toothpicks less. The periodontal tissue of pregnant women is inherently fragile. If the toothpick used is too coarse or is used improperly, it can easily damage the gums, causing bleeding and diseases of the tissues around the teeth.