Just before Christmas (when I was in the grip of flu) a seriously lovely gift box arrived through the post. Having done the precious-little Christmas present shopping I did do online this year, I assumed this was yet another toy, book, or designer top, and not a bevy of pampering products from the folk at Oral-B. Delving into the vibrant pink tissue paper I pulled out treat upon treat that they’ve lovingly handpicked to indulge a select few of us pregnant bloggers. Given I’ve been pining after wine and champagne this Christmas and staring a little too longingly at other people’s glasses, it’s certainly cheered up this tired and exhausted mumma-to-be. Let’s face it, I haven’t stopped whinging since the pregnancy symptoms kicked in (for me, around week 8!). More on these treats later!

You see, I was contacted some time ago to ask if I’d like to join a few other pregnant bloggers to take part in Oral-Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign. The aim is to highlight the importance of looking after your teeth when you have a baby onboard. And if I do say so myself, there’s no one better qualified than me to chat about this. The official line is that hormonal changes in pregnancy can make your gums more vulnerable to plaque, leading to inflammation and bleeding. If left untreated pregnancy gingivitis or gum disease can take hold. It’s my biggest fear to lose my teeth and wander around looking like a drug-user so oral hygiene is definitely important to me.

With this pregnancy, my gums bled from week 6 and my teeth were incredibly sensitive. Luckily, as this is my second pregnancy I spotted the warning signs straight away and booked in to see my dentist. It seems the fault lay with me. My morning sickness (which still hasn’t abated at week 25) was particularly torturous in my first few weeks. Thinking I was doing the right thing, I’d be sick, then brush my teeth to help take away the sickly taste and wash away the nastiness. My dentist quickly warned me that after a bout of sickness the acid can leave your teeth extra vulnerable. Brushing immediately after an episode will do more harm than good and you should wait an hour after being sick to brush them (a glass of water should give teeth a gentle cleanse instead in the meantime).

The over-sensitivity was due to my over-brushing and wearing away the enamel on my teeth (leaving the nerves exposed). If you’d like some further advice from the experts on this, I’d recommend Oral-B’s Love Your Gums Website which is crammed with ideas and brushing techniques to keep your pearly white’s looking and feeling perfect.

Although my dentist is a dead ringer for Ryan Gosling and I’d be happy to see him everyday rather than every 6 months, I followed his advice and most of the problems seem to have cleared up. Given I’ve switched from a whitening toothpaste to one specially formulated for sensitive teeth, they are looking a little dull but the bleeding has all but stopped. I’ve always lusted after an electric toothbrush however as one of my friends once pointed out that the difference between your average toothbrush and its electric cousin is as dramatic as that between a mangle and a washing machine - everyone seems to have one nowadays and I’ve often wondered if they really do live up to the hype.

Well move over Santa as Oral-B sent me one to review and I’ve fallen in love with it. I was sent the Oral-B Triumph TriZone 5000/5500 to help me stay smile-happy whilst the rest of body is morphed beyond all proportion due to Mini Madam, and I’ve noticed the difference instantly. My teeth feel incredibly smooth after brushing, and the smaller head means I can get to my back teeth without gagging (this used to be a major problem). A handy little timer gadget thingy (aka the SmartGuide) lets me know when I’ve brushed for 3 mins which is the recommended time for brushing recognised by healthcare professionals, and I have 5 modes to choose from when brushing: Daily Clean, Deep Clean, Sensitive, Whitening, and Massage. What’s more, there’s a pressure sensor that beeps to tell me when I’m pressing too hard - this auto adjusts when it detects any over-zealousness from me.

My Triumph TriZone also comes with three different heads - The Oral -B Sensitive Brush Head (my favourite), the scary looking Oral-B FlossAction Brush Head, and the Oral-B 3D White Brush Head. Each are tailored to deliver maximum cleansing and polishing with the minimum of effort from yours truly - genius!

The Oral-B Pro-Expert Toothpaste also targets all of the areas that dentists focus on (namely, cavities, your gums, plaque, sensitivity, enamel wear, tartar build-up, dullness and bad breath) whilst delivering a fresh minty and deliciously palatable taste. It’s holding its own against my usual (ridiculously expensive) sensitivity toothpaste so I’m confident it’s doing what it should.

But that’s not all. Oral B also sent me a fab selection of luxury pampering products that was such a welcome treat. The Olay Total Effects Moisturiser has helped me hydrate my dry, tired and central-heating ravaged skin and seems to help combat the zombie-look I’ve been perfecting over the last few months.

I was also sent Maxfactor’s False Lash Effect Mascara which is a cinch to apply and less globby than my usual Maybelline one. I like a thick full set of lashes and did have to apply several times before I looked suitably dolled up - but I think I achieved it, what do you think?

Finally, I was sent a Pantene Deep Moisture Souffle to give my dead ends and tired hair a treat. Unfortunately I don’t get that pregnancy-glow everyone seems to rave on about and end up looking terminally ill - my hair gets fuller but far more brittle and there’s clumps of it on the pillow every morning. I don’t suppose it helps that I dye it every few months (shut your ears fellow pregnancy bloggers! You’ll be wanting to wrap my knuckles right about now for reaching for the John Frieda with a little person onboard) but motherhood has certainly tripled my grey hairs in a way that ages me significantly beyond my 30-ish years. Here’s a selfie of me and my long-suffering other half, looking a great deal perkier than usual.

So thanks Oral-B - I look and feel a trillion times better and am happy to report I won’t be going back to a normal toothbrush. Not only that, but your tips and advice, combined with those of my dentist, have made me feel much more confident that I’m getting my oral hygiene right during these crucial months.

So over to you lovely lot, did you experience any bleeding or swelling of the gums during pregnancy? What did you do to counteract it?

Disclaimer: This post is in association with Oral-Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign (#OralBLoveYourGums). I was not instructed what to write although I did receive this hugely generous pamper pack to review - I’m eternally grateful.