Pregnancy and oral health

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From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Hormonal changes occur when a woman is pregnant, and they can affect her mouth. These changes can increase the risk of red, swollen or bleeding gums. That’s called pregnancy gingivitis. If it’s not treated, it can lead to more severe gum disease.

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Gina Thornton-Evans:

[Dr. Gina Thornton-Evans speaks] "Women who are planning to become pregnant should visit their dentist and get any needed preventive or treatment-related dental care. Pregnant women should practice good daily oral hygiene, like everyone else."

These are things like brushing and flossing, eating healthy foods, and not smoking.

There’s a higher risk that you could lose teeth later in life if you develop periodontal disease, and that’s true for men and women. But the idea that each baby will cost a woman a tooth? That’s a myth.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: July, 08 2009

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