What If Your Gums Keep Swelling and Bleeding During Pregnancy? Oral Care for Mother and Baby

In the section on teeth in the Oehyeong-pyeon (Chapter of External Form) of the Donguibogam, tooth and gum health is explained in connection with the essence of the five viscera and six bowels. In particular, the gums were seen as having a deep relationship with the qi of the stomach and kidney. It was stated that when stomach heat, which is heat accumulating in the stomach, occurs, the gums swell and bleed, and in severe cases, inflammation easily develops. Just as a fire becomes too strong and boils over when water runs low in an iron cauldron, relative heat rises when moisture and body fluids become insufficient in the body. During pregnancy, all of the mother's energy and nutrients are concentrated on the baby to nourish it, and at this time, the body fluids of the mother's body, namely yin blood, easily become relatively deficient. When yin blood, which keeps our body moist and soft, becomes deficient, the energy of fire easily rises upward. Just as the ground cracks when moisture dries up, when the body's body fluids dry out, heat surges upward, irritating the gums and causing inflammation. In particular, it was seen that when kidney deficiency occurs, meaning the kidney qi weakens, the gums weaken, become loose, and bleed easily. The kidney is an important organ that stores our body's essence and marrow and governs vitality, but going through the major change of pregnancy can deplete a mother's kidney qi. At such times, just like soil that has not received proper nourishment, the gums become dry, brittle, and weak, so symptoms of easily bleeding and swelling can appear even with minor irritation. The Donguibogam views gum problems through this overall balance and harmony of the body, gently explaining that care for the mother's entire body is needed, rather than it just being an issue of the mouth alone.