Study: Pregnant women often ignore oral health

Many pregnant women ignore their oral health, putting themselves and their unborn children at risk, according to an Australian study which concluded that maternity care providers should devote more attention to the issue (Journal of Perinatal Medicine, January 2010, Vol. 38:1, pp. 3-8).

A survey of 649 pregnant women who went to public antenatal clinics in Adelaide showed that they rated their general health significantly better than their oral health (p < 0.001) and attributed more importance to healthy teeth for their baby than for themselves (p < 0.001).

Only 35% had dental care during pregnancy and 35% had no dental visits for at least two years. Nearly 30% reported cost as a major deterrent, the study found.

A recent American survey of 914 primary caregivers of children, commissioned by Delta Dental Plans Association, found that fully a quarter of pregnant women didn't see the dentist at all during pregnancy and 38% visited the dentist just once.

Many dentists are overly cautious about providing dental care to pregnant women. But a

study in the Journal of the American Dental Association (June 2008, Vol. 139:6, pp. 685-695) finds that it is safe for pregnant women to get essential dental treatment (EDT) as well as topical and local anesthetics at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) notes that pregnant women with periodontal disease may be seven times more likely to give birth to premature and underweight babies. Additionally, mothers with poor oral health are at greater risk of infecting their children with the bacteria that causes cavities, the group found.

Pregnant women with periodontal disease also may be at an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes even if they don't smoke or drink, according to a study at New York University.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, about 50% of women get "pregnancy gingivitis," a disease that makes the gums sore and swollen. In some studies, pregnant women with gum disease have given birth to low-weight or pre-term babies who are at risk for many serious diseases including chronic lung disease, brain injury, motor and sensory impairment, learning difficulties and behavioral problems.

While a much higher percentage of the women in the Australian study experienced gingival bleeding during pregnancy (41%) than before (18%), only 38% of them sought dental care for it, indicating that many pregnant women do not perceive gingival bleeding as indicating inflammatory disease and seek no professional help for it, the researchers noted.

Maternity care providers need to pay more attention to oral health in antenatal clinics and antenatal education, the study concluded.