The effects of oral health on pregnancy

Many women are already familiar with the negative effect pregnancy can have on the mouth -- the swollen and bloody gums caused by hormonal changes. As it turns out, the mouth may, in turn, have a negative effect on pregnancy.

A study has found that certain bacteria from the mouth, specifically, those that cause root caries and some kinds of gum disease, may be related to early deliveries and low birth weight.

“This is a preventable thing,” said Dr. Ananda P. Dasanayake, lead author of the study conducted by researchers from New York University.

“Some of the factors in pre-term delivery are not modifiable -- things like genetic problems or smoking. But with gum disease, it is simple. Go to the dentist and they will give you proper care. That is why this is so important.”

Mouth bacteria and bad oral health already have been linked to other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, pneumonia and even diabetes. But of all the studies, the strongest link is between periodontal disease and pre-term delivery, Dasanayake said. The study, which appeared in the February issue of the Journal of Periodontology, looked at a group of Alabama women who were pregnant for the first time. The 297 women in the study were mostly low-income and predominantly African American.

The researchers examined the women, taking samples of plaque and other bacteria in their mouths during their third trimester. They followed the women until birth, and then tried to correlate the babies’ gestational ages and birth weights with the bacterial levels in their mothers’ mouths during pregnancy.

Although researchers found that the kind of bacteria that cause root caries and some cavities were associated with early delivery and low birth weight, another type that also can cause cavities was connected to a slight increase in babies’ birth weight.

Unfortunately, it is impossible for any woman to know on her own whether the bacteria in her mouth are the “good” kind or the “bad.”

Therefore, Dasanayake advised, women who plan on getting pregnant should visit a dentist and make sure their teeth and gums are healthy.

Most dentists won’t treat women during the first trimester. After the three-month mark, Dasanayake said, pregnant women should again visit the dentist to ensure that their teeth and gums are healthy.

Dasanayake said doctors do not know the reason for half of pre-term deliveries. But one potential risk factor could be poor oral health.

“Women should take care of their oral health throughout life,” he said. “But it is more important during pregnancy.”