Are you pregnant? Bad breath might be a sign

So you're expecting, and you couldn't be more excited! While this is a very unique time in every woman's life, it can also be full of many nagging issues. From nausea to weird cravings, many maladies of expectant mothers also produce bad breath.

It's your hormones
A lot of ladies hate blaming their hormones on physical or emotional issues, but in the case of bad breath, it's warranted! During pregnancy, a woman's estrogen and progesterone levels are changing, which can cause an increase in the level of plaque that is produced and sticks to your pearly whites. As many of you know (either from toothpaste commercials or otherwise), plaque contains loads of bacteria - a main culprit of bad breath.

Brush between your cravings
Strange food cravings are a common occurrence during pregnancy. While no one is going to tell a pregnant woman what she can't eat (or at least they shouldn't!), all expectant mothers need to be conscious of how the different cravings will affect their teeth. Extra snacking can create quite a build-up of plaque, sugars and bacteria in your mouth, making it a hotbed perfect for bad breath. So remember: you can have that slice of chocolate cake with pickles, but remember to brush afterwards!

Teeth cleaning for your little one
In addition to preventing nasty halitosis from cropping up while you're expecting, you'll also want to keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape for the health of your baby. According to the American Dental Association, women who are pregnant and already suffer from severe gum disease have a higher chance of delivering prematurely, which usually leads to adverse issues for your newborn.