Looking after your mouth and teeth

Hormone changes during pregnancy can increase blood flow to gum tissues, causing sensitivity, bleeding or swollen gums. This is known as pregnancy gingivitis, which has been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes, including pre-term birth and low birth weight babies

The best way to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy is through regular, thorough cleaning and frequent trips to a dentist. 

Free NHS dental care is available to all pregnant women and up to a year after the birth. If you are already registered with an NHS dentist, make sure you get regular check-ups during pregnancy. If you don't already have a dentist, you can search for a dentist near you by using this link How to find an NHS dentist - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 

More information

The NHS have produced information and advice about oral health during pregnancy