Bleeding gums and pregnancy

[koalabear]

Dentist told me that usually by 32 weeks (which is where I am at) the bleeding should be stabilising, but mine seems to be getting worse - blood dripping from mouth worse, not just pink toothpaste !

I do the brushing and flossing religiously, but it seems to make no difference at all

Any suggestions?

Had this too when pregnant. My dentist gave me a prescription for (have disposed of bottle so can't remember exactly) some sort of peroxide (?) solution mouthwash. It made a real difference.

was it corsodyl? usually very good for bleeding gums but not sure if can use it when pregnant

Can't remember, Nemo. He definitely knew I was PG (I barely fitted into his chair).

lol Bp

the other thing is of course it can be very normal to have excess bleeding especially at 32wks due to increased blood supply in system..thats why they bleed in the first place.

I've been through this an eventually got referred to a peridontist. Her advice (which worked amazingly quickly) was:

1. get a pack of the interdental brushes (like little bottle brushes on a plastic handle - available from most chemists and some dentists)

2. get a good soft floss like Ultrafloss.

3. get two toothbrushes one normal and one the small tuft like one for cleaning the gaps between the teeth where they meet the gum.

4. get a cup of fairly hot water with half a teasp of salt dissolved in it. Take a rinse and spit before you start and between each cleaning stage below.

5. Clean your teeth as follows : you should be aiming to take at least ten minutes (but you only need to do this once a day, just clean them normally the second time).

(i) use the normal brush for a minimum of 3 minutes (use a timer) making sure you angle it at 45 degrees into the gum.

(ii) then use the tufty brush paying special attention to the areas between pair
of teeth

(iii) then use the bottle brushes between your teeth (you can angle the brush to get between back teeth)

(iv) then floss

Seems like a lot but I found it worked for me in three-four days.Its all about killing the bacteria which have set uop home in the crevices and you get used to it really quickly. You also get hooked on the fact that you get lovely white teeth (I realise now (shame) that although I thought I was cleaning my teeth well before I really wasnt) and that your mouth feels so much nicer when you clean between your teeth). You really do need the brushes as well as the floss. Floss on its own is good but doesnt scrub in the same way.

If you get really keen you can use those plaque disclosing tablets and an interdental mirror to check your teeth are really clean.

Two other things you can use which help (but nothing really got rid of it until I took up the regime above) are Corsodyl mouthwash and Corsodyl gel (the gel is good for sticking on any particuarly bleeding bits to stop them bleeding). The downside is they taste disgusting and stain your teeth.

If you haven't seen a specialist hygienist you might also think about booking an appointment with one for a couple of times as they clean right under the gums (not nice but Bonjela beforehand helps!)

Sorry to go on at length but I suffered for a good couple of years with gums which would bleed at the slightest provocation and now they are perfectly behaved so I'm a bit evangelical on the subject! Good luck.

wow - thanks for advice - am off to buy brushes!

I second the interdental brushes, they really do work after a week or so. It is quite normal - remmeber the lose a tooth for every child saying!

Thanks for that advice 3mum. I have been really really bad at looking after my teeth through my 2 pg's and am now expecting again. My Mum went mad at me the other day and said if I don't get to a dentist asap my teeth are going to fall out They aren't that bad but I do have red gums that bleed often - esp at night. I'm adamant not to go to a dentist after a horrid experience a few years ago so am going to try your method

Do you think listerine would work in place of salt water? The thought of it makes me feel ill!!!!

Would reinforce all of whar 3mum posted, you can use corsodyl during pregnancy (it doesn't taste that great but the staining can be avoided/limited by only using it for a short period of time avoiding eating or drinking within 1/2 hour of using it - plus the staining is temporary (a hygienist visit will cleaar it away).

The best thing you can do is maintain the best oral hygiene possible with proffesional back up.

TBH some poeple no matter how hard they try still have severe bleeding. The only consolation is its down to your hormones and pretty quickly after the birth these will settle and the situation will improve.