Owing to hormonal changes, pregnant women have a higher risk of developing periodontal disease—a link that has been well established through research. However, according to a new US study, gingivitis affects far more pregnant women than previously thought, its occurrence and severity substantially exceeding US national averages.

Presenting the findings of the Oral Hygiene and Maternity Outcomes Multicenter Study, Dr Robert Gerlach, a research fellow in clinical investigations at P&G, which supported the research, said that moderate-to-severe gingivitis was very common among the 648 women evaluated. The study found a substantial disease onset across broad demographic and socio-economic subgroups beginning in the first trimester of pregnancy. Moreover, severity was extraordinarily high, averaging 51.1 bleeding sites, which represents nearly one-third of the gingiva.

Highlighting the fact that gingivitis is a preventable and manageable disease, Gerlach said it should be every expecting mother’s priority to avoid excessive plaque accumulation to prevent gingivitis becoming an issue. He stressed that many pregnant women, especially in their first pregnancy, are willing to seek advice and will actively change their behaviour, which is why this is an optimal time to reach them in raising awareness of the risk.

Supporting the educational purpose of the campaign, three reports will be published. One will shed light on the various aspects of women’s oral health during pregnancy, another will highlight the mechanisms of pregnancy gingivitis, and a third will cover treatment options and their effects on expecting mothers’ health and that of their children.

“We want to have an impact,” said Prof. Mariano Sanz, Chairman of the EFP Workshop Committee. “We believe that the mission of the EFP without the power of our partners—in this case Oral-B—would not be efficient, so partnership is key!”

Giving a preview on the new guidelines to be published, Sanz remarked that the FDI World Dental Congress is the perfect platform by which to reach dental professionals worldwide, since the federation represents the unified voice of the dental industry. The guidelines will be available by mid-September at www.oralhealthandpregnancy.efp.org.

New Oral-B toothpaste launched
Complementing the event was the introduction of Oral-B’s latest addition to its portfolio, the Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair toothpaste. Already available in most European markets, the toothpaste is intended to help restore gingival health and prevent enamel erosion. According to the company, its ActivRepair Technology (with stannous fluoride and stannous chloride) actively remineralises weakened enamel and builds a protective smear layer that protects teeth against acid erosion even beyond a pH < 3.5. With continued use, Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair will make the teeth stronger against enamel erosion while increasing bacterial control through the inhibition of plaque accumulation, the company said.

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