Pregnant Moms May Need Cheap Dental Coverage to Prevent Gingivitis

By Susan Braden

Not many people know that hormonal changes during pregnancy actually increase an expectant mother’s risks of developing gingivitis. If a woman already has gum disease, becoming pregnant can significantly worsen it, and even cause "tumors" to appear on her gumline – therefore cheap dental coverage may become even more important.

Signs of Gum Disease

If pregnancy causes you to develop gingivitis, in most cases inflammation of your gums will appear somewhere between your second and eighth month of pregnancy. Signs of this gum disease may range from more red-looking gums that bleed slightly when brushed to severe gum swelling and bleeding.

Prevention

To prevent gingivitis while you are pregnant, it is very important to maintain proper oral hygiene habits, including brushing at least twice a day, flossing once per day and rinsing with mouthwash. Also, if you have scheduled a cleaning at a dentist while you are pregnant, don’t cancel it. A periodic cleaning is all the more important while you are expecting. Having cheap dentistry coverage can also make your appointment financially easier for you.

Signs of Pregnancy Tumors

If your gums become diseased while you are pregnant, it is possible for you to develop a “pregnancy tumor” as well. Do not be frightened by the term “tumor,” because this lump will not be cancerous, nor should it spread. A pregnancy tumor is simply an extreme inflammatory reaction to irritation of the gums that occurs in roughly 10% of pregnant women, often in those who already have gum disease. You can spot a pregnancy tumor on your gum tissue as a large red lump, usually on the upper half of the gum line. This lump can make it difficult to eat and speak and usually causes discomfort. It can develop at any time during your term, but most often occurs during the second trimester.

Treatment

Treatment for a pregnancy tumor is not always necessary. Most of the time, this lump will disappear after your baby is born. On the other hand, if the lump severely affects your eating or speaking, your dentist may want to remove it. The removal process is fairly simple, and is done under anesthesia. Be aware that in 50% of these cases the tumor will reappear during the 9-month term.

No expectant mother needs more stress added to her pregnancy. Maintain your oral hygiene to prevent the unneeded stress of gingivitis or lumps on your gums. However, if you do develop gum disease or pregnancy tumors, you may want to seek out cheap dental coverage to help.

For more information from Susan Braden about cheap dental care, click here.