Which bacterium is commonly increased in pregnancy-associated gingivitis?

Which bacterium is commonly increased in pregnancy-associated gingivitis?

• A. Prevotella intermedia
• B. Porphyromonas gingivalis
• C. Fusobacterium nucleatum
• D. Actinomyces israelii

Answer: (A)

Pregnancy brings higher levels of estrogen and progesterone in oral fluids, which changes the gingival environment and favors the growth of certain anaerobic bacteria. Prevotella intermedia is particularly responsive to these hormonal changes and tends to proliferate in the subgingival biofilm during pregnancy, making it a common finding in pregnancy-associated gingivitis. This shift helps explain why gingival inflammation often appears or worsens during pregnancy. Other bacteria listed are associated more with different conditions—Porphyromonas gingivalis with chronic periodontitis, Fusobacterium nucleatum as a general periodontal organism that isn’t specifically tied to pregnancy hormones, and Actinomyces israelii with actinomycosis rather than pregnancy-related gingivitis.

Pregnancy brings higher levels of estrogen and progesterone in oral fluids, which changes the gingival environment and favors the growth of certain anaerobic bacteria. Prevotella intermedia is particularly responsive to these hormonal changes and tends to proliferate in the subgingival biofilm during pregnancy, making it a common finding in pregnancy-associated gingivitis. This shift helps explain why gingival inflammation often appears or worsens during pregnancy. Other bacteria listed are associated more with different conditions—Porphyromonas gingivalis with chronic periodontitis, Fusobacterium nucleatum as a general periodontal organism that isn’t specifically tied to pregnancy hormones, and Actinomyces israelii with actinomycosis rather than pregnancy-related gingivitis.