Pregnancy detection by looking into the mouth of a person? A dental student in a viral TikTok video claims it is possible. However, doctors readily debunked it as it is lousily inaccurate.
SYDNEY, NSW - JUNE 07: A pregnant woman holds her stomach June 7, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. Australia is currently enjoying a baby boom, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics registering a 2.4% increase in births from 2004 to 2005, which represents the highest number of births since 1992.
Yet again, another video on TikTok is spitting health facts from a med school student.
Separately, some of the content in the platform has led to more danger. For instance, some experts warned that a weight loss challenge could inflict damage to a person's overall health. But, in other cases, it helps as well. A user claimed that the algorithm of the app unintentionally suggested that she has ADHD.
And this time around, an unusual way to know if someone is pregnant has surfaced.
Pregnant Detection Through Mouth
A fourth-year dental student named Sukhmani, also known as @thatdentalgal, claimed on TikTok that a simple glance at a patient's mouth is enough to tell if someone is carrying a baby.
Sukhmani said that a "dentist may be able to tell if you're pregnant." The video is the third part of the series dubbed as "things your dentist could tell by just looking at your mouth."
According to @thatdentalgal, pregnancy gingivitis could tell if someone is pregnant. She added that around 30% to 50% of them have this condition. Additionally, it would result in tender and inflamed gums. And in the worst case, bleeding occurs.
Health reported that numerous users stormed to the comments section to share their similar experiences.
"During my cleaning, they were extra careful because even the smallest touch caused so much bleeding," a user wrote.
Pregnancy Gingivitis: Is it Real?
According to Health, it is indeed an existing condition. The American Dental Association clarified that gingivitis is more frequently present when someone is pregnant.
The Insider adds that gingivitis, or "swollen gums," is mainly due to the hormonal change that pregnancy brings.
Moreover, Angelo Mariotti, Chairperson of Periodontology Division at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, noted via Health, that it does not only degrade the gums of a person, but the overall immune system as well.
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Pregnancy Detection via Mouth: Debunked
Though pregnancy gingivitis is real, doctors say it could not really tell if someone is expecting a baby.
Dr. Mark Wolff, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, also said via Health, that the claim is "an overstatement."
Dr. Wolff added that even men could be susceptible to gingivitis, as well as women who are not pregnant. Thus, it could lead to false detection of pregnancy.
Additionally, Dr. Stefanie Russel, Associate Professor of New York University College of Dentistry, told Health that the condition usually happens at a time when pregnancy is already obvious. Dr. Russel said that, in most cases, gingivitis occurs during the second trimester.
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Written by Teejay Boris
