Gingivitis during pregnancy

Since the 1960s, an increase in the incidence and severity of gum disease during pregnancy has been reported. Although the etiology is not fully known, it is believed that an increase in the level of steroid hormones in plasma during pregnancy has a dramatic effect on periodonium. Current research has shown that the increase in estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy should be responsible for the progression of gingivitis. This review focuses not only on epidemiological studies, but also on the effects of progesterone and estrogen on the change in subgingival microbiota and immunological physiological mediators in periodontal tissue (gingival and periodontal ligament), which gives current information about the effect of pregnancy on gum disease.