Pregnancy is a joyous time full of happiness and excitement ( as you can tell, my memories of the horrors of pregnancy have quickly faded!). Your mouth changes a lot during your pregnancy, yet another thing to consider on top of all your other ailments!
The main issues pregnant women have are bleeding gums. The surge in pregnancy hormones which cause mucous membranes to swell up and are also reponsible for your bunged up sinuses, cause the gums to become very inflamed, usually starting around the 15 weeks of pregnancy. Generally the gums have a heightened response to plaque, leading many women to be suffering bleeding while brushing, flossing or even gums spontaneously bleeding during the night. Do not be alarmed, proceed with your normal brushing routine ( try switching to a soft bristled tooth brush) and continue to floss. Visit your dentist or hygienist regularly for a deep cleaning of your teeth which will ensure plaque is kept at bay and hopefully will help your gums settle. Your gums will return to normal after the birth.
Other issues women may have is an increase in dental decay caused by a reduction of saliva during pregnancy and a change in diet . Often as women try and maintain their energy levels and attempt to stave off morning sickness, they snack on high carb, sugary foods. Try to avoid this if possible and stick to healthy alternatives like dry crackers and fruit. Chewing gum is a good way to improve saliva levels. The development of a pyogenic granulomas or a pregnancy epulis occurs in about 5% of women. This is a harmless overgrowth of gum again caused by pregnancy hormones. These will also disappear after childbirth. So hang in there ladies, keep a clean, healthy diet as much as you can and, keep brushing your teeth (despite the bloodbath every time you do so), and stay and attend your dentist regularly. Good Luck!