Swollen Ankles, Swollen Gums And Other Joys of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a happy time in the life of a woman! There is so much to plan, so much to look forward to and so much to experience. On the flipside, pregnancy is also a time with significant bodily changes that at times may be a bit more than the mom-to-be bargained for. The expanding waist line and even the swollen ankles were anticipated. The morning sickness was bearable. But, when it comes to experiencing some of the additional symptoms throughout the advancing pregnancy, women are sometimes caught a bit off guard. Swollen gums are perhaps the one condition future moms are frequently not ready to deal with.

In a small percentage of the cases the gums are not just painfully swollen, but also show small red lumps in between the teeth. These are extremely painful and even though they are unsightly and uncomfortable, they are not dangerous. The medical name for this condition is “pyogenic granuloma”. Most women just refer to them as gum ulcers. These gum ulcers themselves are absolutely not hazardous to either mom or the growing baby. However, the pain they cause may lead to a different condition that could cause severe problems.

When the gums are swollen and painful, it is tempting for the new mom-to-be to forego the rigors of oral hygiene. Rather than conscientiously brushing her teeth, she may opt for a quick swish with commercial brand oral rinse. After all, the ulcers and the swollen gums are quite painful and the less they are irritated with brushing and flossing, the sooner they will go away, right? Wrong! Instead, the bacteria which are attacking the teeth and gum on a continuous basis will now do so with even more strength. Because they are not removed with consistent brushing and flossing, they are bound to do serious damage.

As a matter of fact, swollen gums during pregnancy have been linked to bacterial infections developing later on during the time Mom still carries the baby inside. This poses the danger of premature birth and even heart problems for Mom! Add to this the changing hormonal wrecking havoc on the usual balance that keeps all bodily systems working without interruptions! It’s not at all surprising to learn her body is now an open door, with respect to infectious germs.

Swollen ankles, swollen gums and the other joys of pregnancy may go hand in hand with the waiting period that spans nine months. But, they should not interfere with Mom’s or Baby’s health. Prevention is still the best policy! If the mom-to-be feels pain in the mouth and notices angry red ulcerations between her teeth, it is time to visit her doctor or dentist. This is not a condition that will go away over time or get better when adopting a wait and see approach. This is especially when dealing with morning sickness and swollen gums. Instead, this has all the makings of causing some very serious and dangerous problems down the line!