If you’ve started noticing bleeding or swollen gums during pregnancy, you’re not alone and you’re not imagining it. Around 60–75% of pregnant women experience some form of pregnancy gingivitis, often starting in the second or third trimester.
I didn’t think much of it at first. One day while brushing my teeth, I noticed a bit of blood. Didn’t hurt, didn’t look too crazy, just figured maybe I brushed a little rough. A few days later, same thing. Then came the gum swelling—and that’s when I realized something was off.
Turns out pregnancy can mess with your gums in ways I wasn’t ready for. Your hormones shoot up, your gums get extra sensitive, and boom—bleeding, puffiness, soreness. For some people it’s mild. For others (me), it turns brushing your teeth into a crime scene.
So What’s “Normal” Bleeding vs Not-So-Normal?
Some bleeding while brushing or flossing during pregnancy? Pretty common. But when it starts happening every day or comes with tenderness, swelling, or pain—it’s probably more than just a little irritation.
There’s even a name for it: pregnancy gingivitis. Totally real, totally annoying, and super common in the second and third trimester. The big thing is catching it early so it doesn’t turn into an infection or something worse.
Stuff That Actually Helped Me
Here’s what made a difference for me while I was dealing with all this and couldn’t get in to see a dentist:
1. Salt Water Rinse
Old-school but works. Just warm water and sea salt. Swish it around once or twice a day. Takes down the swelling and makes your gums less angry.
2. Extra-Soft Toothbrush
I swapped mine out for a baby-soft one. I don’t care if it looks like a toy—it hurt less and didn’t make the bleeding worse.
3. No Alcohol in Mouthwash
I stopped using anything with alcohol or peroxide in it. Switched to a gentle rinse without all the burn and it made a big difference.
4. Drinking More Water
Not a glamorous tip, but it helped. Dry mouth made my gums worse, and I noticed less bleeding when I was drinking enough.
5. Vitamin C & Gentle Flossing
Someone told me low vitamin C makes gum issues worse—so I started eating more oranges and bell peppers, and taking my prenatal consistently. Also started flossing gently—not like I was trying to yank my teeth out.
6. Found Something That Actually Helped Long Term
Eventually I tried something called TeethHealth, which is this natural gum support thing. I don’t usually try random stuff like that, but honestly? It worked. The swelling started going down in like 4–5 days and the bleeding stopped not long after.
Note: Definitely ask your doctor or midwife before taking anything new during pregnancy, even if it’s “natural.” That’s just what helped in my case, and I was cleared to use it.
When It’s Time to See Someone (Even If It Feels Like Overkill)
If you’ve got swelling that won’t go down, pus, loose teeth, or your breath smells weird no matter what you do—it’s probably time to push for a dentist visit. Even if you have to go private or ask your midwife for a referral.
Gum infections during pregnancy aren’t just annoying—they’ve been linked to preterm birth and other complications, so it’s not something to ignore if it keeps getting worse.
Bottom Line
Bleeding gums during pregnancy might be “normal,” but that doesn’t mean you just have to suffer through it. There are a few things you can try at home to calm it down while you wait to get in with a dentist—and for me, doing the basics + a little extra support made all the difference.
Hope this helps if you’re in the same boat. Hang in there—it gets better.
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