National Pregnancy Week - 5th – 11th September

Bleeding Gums in Pregnancy…
More Normal Than You Think

Pregnancy is a wonderful and exciting time in your life, a period when your body experiences many physiological changes - some which are easily understood, like the crazy cravings and others like the bleeding gums, which may leave you questioning if this happens to everyone - so this National Pregnancy Week rest assured that it is absolutely normal!

Bleeding, sensitive gums are a common complaint during pregnancy. The changes in oestrogen and progesterone levels can cause your gums to swell and become inflamed, which can lead to them bleeding easily and frequently, especially when you floss or brush your teeth.

In more severe cases, some women can even experience spontaneous bleeding, which is commonly known as ‘pregnancy gingivitis’. Pregnancy gingivitis usually begins in early pregnancy, becoming worse in the second or third month and increasing in severity through to the eighth month - it then begins to decrease in the ninth month. Women who are breastfeeding may also find that these symptoms continue after the birth of their child.

If left untreated gingivitis can have damaging effects on the gums and bone surrounding your teeth and can result in the loss of gum and bone tissue. It is therefore vital that you take extra good care of your gums during pregnancy.

A natural, easy and effective treatment for gum disease whilst pregnant is Gengigel. Gengigel is the first product of its kind in the UK, to contain hyaluronan – a natural substance found in the body’s own connective tissue which has been proven to double the body’s rate of healing of inflamed and damaged tissue in the mouth.

Available as either a gel (rsp. £6.49 for 20ml) or mouth rinse (rsp. £7.99 for 150ml) Gengigel is available in Tesco, Waitrose, Boots and Superdrug stores nationwide, or from dental practices. For further information visit www.gengigel.co.uk or Telephone 01480 862080.