When you get pregnant, chances are you're thinking a lot about what the future holds—maybe not so much about your teeth or gums. However, they should be added to the list of concerns that you have when caring for your body for your pregnancy. Read on to discover what link exists between the two and what you should do to ensure you and your child are healthy.

More Prone to Gum Disease

When you're pregnant, your risk of developing gum disease goes up. The good news is that it's temporary, but the bad news is that it may last for the duration of your pregnancy. The reason for this is that your hormones shift dramatically while you're pregnant to support the child and to develop the womb so that the child is safe. Hormone shifts are necessary to support pregnancy, but they can have unwanted effects on the rest of your body, like increasing back pain, or in this case, causing gum disease.

Risks of Gum Disease

The problem with you having gum disease right now goes beyond the simple pain and irritation it can cause. Having gum disease can increase your risk of a miscarriage. While the exact reason for this isn't fully understood, it may have something to do with the increased inflammation and bacterial growth that happens with gum disease. 

Get a Dental Checkup

If you're having symptoms of gum disease, like bleeding or tenderness, you need to get to a dentist to get help. But even if you don't think you're having symptoms, a simple dental check-up is a good idea. Gum disease can sometimes manifest without the more well-known symptoms, which can still put your oral health and your child's health at risk.

While having clean teeth and gums isn't a guarantee that your gum disease will go away, it will help with the symptoms. For example, when people develop pregnancy gingivitis, they already had some minor gum disease that has simply been worsened by being pregnant. So if you had underlying gum disease, treating that may be enough to rid you of all your symptoms.

Gum disease is a big deal for pregnant mothers and their unborn children. Add regular dental check-ups to your list of medical care appointments while you're pregnant. It will help to avoid pain and irritation in your mouth, but more importantly, it'll protect your child. Contact family dental care services to learn more.