Can bleeding gums be a sign of pregnancy? | Bleeding gums during pregnancy

Can bleeding gums be a sign of pregnancy?

The hormonal change already at the beginning of pregnancy causes the different tissues of the body to change. The dentist can often see this change in the early stages of pregnancy in changes in the gums. Already in the second and third week of pregnancy the gums can be changed.

It becomes softer and often swollen and tends to bleed. This bleeding can occur when brushing teeth or when using dental floss and interdental brushes. The blood vessels are more prone to be damaged by mechanical applications, such as using a toothbrush.

The gums are also more sensitive to bacterial attack, which can more easily cause gingivitis. Since these signs appear so early in pregnancy, it is possible to recognize signs of pregnancy from them. Nevertheless, it should be noted that gingivitis can also be caused by many other factors and therefore a pregnancy need not exist.

Furthermore, the cause of bleeding gums at a localized location is usually a mechanical irritation or injury. Only a generalized tendency to bleed in the entire oral cavity would be a hormonal sign.Generalized gingivitis can also be caused by poor oral hygiene, a weakened immune system or similar reasons. Therefore, bleeding gums can be a sign of pregnancy if it occurs in the entire oral cavity, but it does not have to be. For a reliable diagnosis of pregnancy, the treating gynecologist should be consulted, who will perform a pregnancy test.