What causes bleeding gums during pregnancy?

Many female friends whose gums are normally healthy notice bleeding gums in the early stages of pregnancy. Does this mean that there is a problem with the gums? Actually, it is not. Bleeding gums in early pregnancy, like gestational high blood pressure, are symptoms that only occur during pregnancy. So, what is the cause of bleeding gums in early pregnancy?

What causes bleeding gums during early pregnancy?

After the second month of pregnancy, pregnant women often have significant bleeding gums. Bleeding gums during pregnancy are caused by the increase in the progesterone level (also called "corpus luteum") in the pregnant woman's body and the increase in blood supply to the mouth, which causes the gum capillaries to expand, bend, weaken elasticity, and blood congestion. But don't worry, most bleeding gums will disappear after giving birth.

If some pregnant women usually have mild gingivitis and periodontitis, when the body's estrogen level increases, the gums are more sensitive to the bacteria of dental plaque. Gum inflammation and bleeding symptoms will continue to worsen.

Some pregnant women may also develop small hard lumps on their gums, which may bleed when they brush their teeth. These lumps (which are very rare) are called "gingival granulomas" or "granulomas." The name sounds scary, but it is harmless to the body and is generally not painful.

What to do if your gums bleed during early pregnancy

1. Change to a children's electric toothbrush made of soft bristles. The brush head of a children's electric toothbrush is smaller, and the material of the soft bristle toothbrush can alleviate the damage to the gums caused by the soft bristle toothbrush and properly deal with the problem of bleeding gums. If conditions permit, you might as well buy a sonic electric toothbrush, which can effectively massage the gums, reduce the brushing amplitude by about 60%, and reduce the degree of gingivitis bleeding by 62%.

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

3. Use the vertical brush method to brush your teeth. Brush your teeth gently and thoroughly. Don't use excessive force. Too much force will damage sensitive gums and cause bleeding gums.