Could maintaining good oral health help get my baby to term?
No one likes getting sick, but everyone knows it’s even worse when you’re pregnant. While pregnant, our immune systems become suppressed making us more susceptible to illnesses. If you’re a pregnant woman like me, you’re probably already taking EVERY preventive measure to protect yourself from getting sick to ensure that it does not negatively impact your baby!
But when we think about our overall health, we often disregard oral health. I too, am guilty of this. As I mentioned earlier, during my pregnancy my hormones fluctuated in a way that caused my gums to inflame. Without properly following oral hygiene regimens, on top of these hormones, I am putting myself at risk for periodontitis.
As a dentist (and a worrying mom-to-be), I’ve done a lot of research on how periodontitis could potentially harm my baby. I was not surprised with what I found, knowing that conditions within the mouth can often have a greater systemic impact.
Bacteria causing periodontitis has been linked with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Periodontitis is associated with both preterm babies (less than 37 weeks) and low birth weight babies (less than 5 pounds and 8 ounces). This is because preterm labor can be induced by immune-mediated inflammatory diseases – this INCLUDES periodontal inflammation!!! These bacteria in the mouth can make their way down to the placenta, triggering either a maternal or fetal response and ultimately inducing labor. Preterm babies are also at a greater risk for developing birth abnormalities, asthma, ear infections and behavioral issues.
Preventive measures should be taken to minimize the risk of periodontitis during pregnancy. As mentioned before, brushing and flossing daily (or as often as you can, I know how tiring pregnancy is) is important in preventing periodontitis by removing dental plaque containing harmful bacteria. Additionally, try and maintain a healthy diet and avoid foods high in carbohydrates and sugars which increase plaque buildup – especially during snacking!!!! Fruits and vegetables or dairy products like cheese (NOT soft) are recommended.
Following these precautions could help eliminate periodontitis as a risk factor for preterm labor. Preterm labor is still pretty unexplained and the cause is not always evident. While there certainly are many risk factors involved, it can still occur without them…even in those taking every precaution.
Pregnancy and Me 