Brush twice for a smooth delivery

Pregnant women with periodontal disease are seven times more likely to deliver a premature or underweight baby, according to a recent study by the American Dental Association.

While more research is needed to confirm how periodontal disease may affect pregnancy, dentists in India are of the opinion that it is important for pregnant women to follow a preventive oral care routine of brushing twice a day followed by an anti-microbial mouthwash and flossing.

It appears that periodontal disease triggers increased levels of biological fluids that induce labour, said Dr Gopalakrishnan, periodontist from New Delhi and secretary general, International Clinical Dental Research Organisation (ICDRO).

“For a long time, we have known that risk factors such as smoking, drinking and use of drugs contribute to mothers having babies that are born prematurely with a low birth weight. Now, evidence suggests a new risk factor, periodontal disease. International data also suggests that women whose periodontal condition worsens during pregnancy have an even higher risk of having a premature baby,” he said.

Dr CD Dwarakanath, head, department of periodontics at Oxford Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore and president of the Indian Society of Periodontology said, “Pregnant women need to brush twice a day for at least five minutes. Using short, gentle strokes, the focus should be on the base of the gums. Then they should try to reach the hard base to reach places like the back of the mouth. It is also important to clean in between the teeth by using dental floss. This can be further augmented by the use of a mouthwash in order to attain optimum levels of oral hygiene.”

Research shows that pregnancy is one of the several health conditions, where the teeth and gums are more susceptible to plaque biofilm and other oral irritants, said Dr Kumarswamy, oral care expert and honorary consultant, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai and faculty, UNC, US.

“The hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to swollen, sore or bleeding gums. A preventive oral care regime must be practised during pregnancy. Brushing alone is not enough. Using an antiseptic mouthwash is also important for overall protection from germs,” he said.

Studies conducted on pregnant women revealed that during the first and second trimesters, they may show signs of swollen gums and those that bleed easily. However, this trend was reversed a few months post delivery, said Dr Kumarswamy.

“It is important for pregnant women to pay attention to their oral care as studies have shown that women with periodontics problem during pregnancy were at a significantly higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia or pre-term low birth weight babies,” he said.