Do you have swollen, tender, bleeding gums? Those are signs of pregnancy gingivitis. It affects up to 75% of pregnant people (1).
Gingivitis also causes bad breath and receding gums. It’s linked to high progesterone hormone levels and too much bacterial plaque.
When does pregnancy gingivitis start?
If you didn’t have it before you became pregnant, gingivitis starts as early as the second month of pregnancy and worsens in the third trimester.
Is pregnancy gingivitis dangerous?
The good news is that your gingivitis probably won’t harm your baby unless it develops into periodontitis. That more severe condition can cause low birth weight and premature delivery.
How will you know if gingivitis has turned into advanced gum disease? It’s best to visit your dentist before things get that bad. It’s when inflamed gums pull away from the teeth, leading to infected areas and tooth loss.
How do you get rid of gingivitis when pregnant?
The easiest treatment for pregnancy gingivitis is to step up your oral hygiene. Be sure to brush morning and night with a soft toothbrush. Be sure to gently clean along the gum line. Try using circular motions to sweep debris upward and away.
Next, nothing can replace flossing, not even brushing. It’s inevitable that junk will get caught between your teeth and that can lead to gingivitis, not to mention bad breath. It may take a couple of extra minutes, but flossing drastically cut down on cavities and gingivitis.
Plus, there are different products to handle either narrow gaps or wide gaps between the teeth without irritating sensitive gums. Talk to your dentist about the difference between dental floss, dental tape, and a water pick. Some are flavored and some are not.
DenTek Triple Clean Advanced Clean Floss
Before we move on to reviews of the best mouthwash for pregnancy gingivitis, here’s a quick plug for floss picks. One end is like a toothpick and the other has mint-flavored floss strung on it ready to go. It’s easier to grip than a string of dental floss, and it’s sturdy, too. Let it get you motivated to floss at least once a day.
How to get rid of pregnancy gingivitis
During pregnancy, it’s important to visit your dentist for a checkup and cleaning. Schedule it for the second or third trimester to catch gingivitis early. If you wait too long, you might need antibiotics or even surgery.
On the bright side, there are lots of things you can do at home to take care of your gums. Besides brushing and flossing, mouthwash helps eliminate gingivitis. If you don’t love mint-flavored mouthwash, you’re not alone. Instead of traditional minty alcohol-based products, there are all sorts of flavorful and unflavored options.
You can even gargle with salt water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water, rinse well, and be sure to spit it out when you’re done.
Is it safe to use mouthwash during pregnancy?
Happily, mouthwash is safe to use during pregnancy (2). If you’re concerned, choose one that’s recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) or discuss the one you use with your doctor. You can also pick one that’s alcohol-free and made with gentle ingredients. See the reviews below for the best mouthwashes to use while you’re pregnant.
How to pick the best mouthwash?
There are therapeutic mouthwashes with ingredients like chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, fluoride, and peroxide. These have potent active ingredients that treat gingivitis, prevent tooth decay, take care of canker sores, and keep teeth white.
Then, there are cosmetic mouthwashes that help with bad breath and taste nice. We recommend sticking with the therapeutic mouthwashes that are alcohol-free as they are gentler to sore gums.
Check the instructions on the mouthwash. Some should be used only once a day but others can be used more often, and that’s handy if you have morning sickness and want to rinse after vomiting.
In most cases, you’ll want to swish the mouthwash for at least 30 seconds before spitting it out. Then don’t drink or eat for about half an hour afterward.
When does pregnancy gingivitis go away?
Once you give birth and your hormones begin returning to normal, the risk of gingivitis increases as long as you maintain good oral hygiene.
In the meantime, try one of these mouthwashes to prevent and treat pregnancy gingivitis:
| The best mouthwashes for pregnancy gingivitis | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| Tom's of Maine Sea Salt Natural Mouthwash |
|
| CloSYS Sensitive Mouthwash |
|
| TheraBreath Healthy Gums 24-Hour Oral Rinse |
|
| Listerine Advanced Defence Gum Treatment for Gingivitis |
|
| Colgate Total Gum Health Alcohol-Free Mouthwash |
|
| Oral-B Mouth Sore Mouthwash Special Care Oral Rinse |
|
Tom’s of Maine Sea Salt Natural Mouthwash
We mentioned that one of the pregnancy gingivitis home remedies is to rinse with saltwater. Unfortunately, saltwater makes us gag. That’s why we tried this product from one of our favorite pregnancy-safe mouthwash brands.
Tom’s Sea Salt mouthwash is alcohol-free so it doesn’t burn the mouth. Moreover, it’s slightly minty so it’s actually quite pleasant to use. And we were happy that it doesn’t have any artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.
The active ingredients include salt, xylitol, and zinc citrate to kill germs and keep the mouth fresh.
Pros:
- Alcohol-free with natural ingredients like sea salt, xylitol, and zinc
- Pleasant and slightly minty
- Doesn’t burn the mouth but is effective against bad breath and soothing to gums
Cons:
- Try the unflavored version if you don’t like mint
CloSYS Sensitive Mouthwash
This mouthwash also comes in unflavored or gentle mint flavors. Either way, it’s designed for sensitive mouths because it’s pH-balanced and alcohol-free. Furthermore, it doesn’t contain gluten, triclosan, or sulfates. That latter ingredient – sulfates – is problematic for a lot of people and unfortunately, it appears in lots of mouthwashes and kinds of toothpaste. We were thrilled to find mouthwash without it.
What’s more, this product has ADA approval. It can be used as many times a day as needed so it’s perfect for dealing with morning sickness. (After all, it’s a bad idea to brush your teeth after vomiting because your tooth enamel is weakened by acid. Use mouthwash to rinse instead).
Pros:
- Available in Gentle Mint or Unflavored versions
- Has the ADA seal of approval
- Can be used multiple times per day
- Free of alcohol, gluten, triclosan, and sulfates
Cons:
- Good at getting rid of bad breath but not the most effective against gingivitis
TheraBreath Healthy Gums 24-Hour Oral Rinse
In our search for the best mouthwash for gingivitis, we discovered that this rinse was developed in part for treating gum problems during pregnancy. It’s also helpful for persons with diabetes or dental issues due to aging. It cuts down on tartar and plaque buildup while soothing bleeding gums. It leaves the mouth feeling very clean without the nasty burn of alcohol.
The active ingredient is cetylpyridinium chloride which is clinically proven to kill germs that cause gum disease and periodontitis. This is an FDA-approved treatment that’s safe to use during pregnancy.
Instead of saccharin, the mouthwash uses xylitol as the sweetener, and that’s safe, too. Weirdly, it fights tooth decay which is why you’ll find it in chewing gum.
Furthermore, there are no artificial flavors or colors used. The formula is also certified gluten-free, Kosher, and vegan. The beneficial effects last for 24 hours after you rinse with it.
You can’t lose as the mouthwash even comes with a money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Uses cetylpyridinium chloride, an FDA-approved treatment for gum disease
- Benefits last for 24 hours after use
- No saccharin, alcohol, artificial colors, dyes, or gluten
- Certified vegan and kosher
Cons:
- Soft mint flavor – but look for unflavored, too
Listerine Advanced Defence Gum Treatment for Gingivitis
Is there a mouthwash that reverses gingivitis? Yes, and it’s been clinically proven to work. Listerine’s gum treatment rinse reduces gum disease within two weeks and reduces bleeding by half in four weeks.
You might notice the British spelling of “Defence” in the product name. Lucky for us in the USA, Amazon carries this mouthwash stateside, too.
Ethyl lauroyl arginate is the magic that makes it work. It coats the gums and teeth to prevent plaque formation and stop the problem at the source. Of course, it functions best if you take the time to brush and floss.
On the downside, the only flavor option seems to be mint. It burns the tongue a little bit, but it leaves the mouth feeling extremely clean.
Pros:
- Usesethyl lauroyl arginate to stop the problem at the source
- Proven to reduce gum disease within 2 weeks
- Mint flavor instead of the typical Listerine taste
Cons:
- Looks like it only comes in mint
Colgate Total Gum Health Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
Colgate makes various types of mouthwash. We selected the Total Gum Health rinse because it’s been tested and proven to reverse gingivitis within 6 weeks. Moreover, it’s alcohol-free.
The powerful antibacterial formula kills 99% of bacteria on contact and the protection lasts for 12 hours. The study showed that it reduces plaque along the gum line and between the teeth with the benefit of reducing bleeding and odor, too. The active ingredient is cetylpyridinium chloride.
The formula is alcohol-free but has artificial sweeteners, dye, and flavoring. All the same, the clean mint flavor is pretty good and it doesn’t burn.
Pros:
- Clinically proven to reverse gingivitis in 6 weeks
- Also reduces bleeding and halitosis
- Uses cetylpyridinium chloride to kill 99% of germs on contact
- Alcohol-free with a clean mint flavor that doesn’t burn
- Protection lasts for 12 hours
Cons:
- Has artificial color, flavor, and sweeteners
Oral-B Mouth Sore Mouthwash Special Care Oral Rinse
If you had or have braces, does your mouth get irritated? What about canker sores or when you bite your cheek or tongue? What do you use to heal your mouth? Chances are your dentist recommended a hydrogen peroxide rinse like this mouthwash.
Not only does it treat mouth sores, but it also helps calm irritated gums. What’s more, it’s gluten-free and contains no sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, artificial colors, and alcohol. It doesn’t taste too bad, either.
Pros:
- Formulated to calm irritated gums and speed healing of mouth sores
- Active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide
- Free from alcohol, SLS, artificial colors, and parabens
Cons:
- Not specifically formulated to treat only gingivitis
Conclusion
If your gums are bleeding, puffy, or sore, don’t delay treatment. Make sure that you’re brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. Add a gingivitis-fighting mouthwash to your routine and prevent gum disease.
If you have any questions about what you need to do to take care of your teeth when you’re pregnant, check with your dentist. Be sure to schedule a checkup in the second or third trimester.
We hope our reviews helped you choose the best mouthwash for your needs today. If it’s working wonders for you, feel free to tell us about it in the comments below.
Sources:
1. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/gingivitis 5 Ways to Prevent and Treat Pregnancy Gingivitis, Last medically reviewed on June 13, 2016
2. https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/health-and-safety/is-it-safe-to-use-mouthwash-during-pregnancy_10407081 Is it safe to use mouthwash while pregnant? by Rebekah Wahlberg, Medically reviewed by Sally Urang, MS, RN, CNM, midwife, published November 3, 2021