Dental News - Brisbane dentist highlights importance of oral health during pregnancy

Dr Ellie Nadian

Tue. 30. October 2018

save

BRISBANE, Australia: Pregnancy is a unique experience in a woman’s life; however, it may significantly affect her own and her child’s oral health. Studies have shown that links exist between poor oral health and low birth weight or premature birth. According to a Brisbane dentist, as pregnancy is associated with compromised oral health due to hormonal effects, expectant mothers should be warned that poor oral health during pregnancy can adversely affect their infants’ health.

Dr Ellie Nadian, who is a general dental practitioner and runs Pure Dentistry, a practice in Brisbane, believes that pregnant woman should receive specific information for the management of changes in their oral health conditions during pregnancy. During the phases of pregnancy, a woman undergoes many hormonal changes in the body and because of these, dental and gingival deterioration may be rapid. For this reason, Nadian also highlights the particular importance of having good oral health prior to conception.

With various pregnancy-induced growth factors, such as a change in the physiological condition and female hormones, there can be an increase in the activity of bacteria in the oral cavity and increased risks to a pregnant woman’s oral health. In a study of pregnant Japanese women, researchers reported that oral bacteria significantly increase in the early pregnancy period. Therefore, pregnancy, especially in the early stages, can promote the proliferation of bacteria in the oral cavity and facilitate colonisation by periodontal pathogens. However, according to the results of a separate study, proper oral hygiene during pregnancy can partially neutralise hormonal effects on oral tissue.

According to American guidelines on oral health during pregnancy and early childhood, preventative dental care should be provided as early in pregnancy as possible. In a study by scientists at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston in the US, that may help highlight the importance of good oral health during pregnancy. These researchers studied 1,635 pregnant women regarding periodontitis and its relation to preterm birth. According to the results, periodontitis is an independent risk factor for poor pregnancy outcomes among some women.

Editorial note: The references can be obtained from Dr Ellie Nadian.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

New campaign focuses on oral health during pregnancy

BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and Oral-B have launched a campaign to highlight the importance of oral health for ...

Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy improves oral health in offspring

COPENHAGEN, Denmark: The authors of a recent study have investigated whether high-dose vitamin D supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy ...

World Food Day highlights importance of healthy diet

ROME, Italy: World Food Day is celebrated annually on 16 October, marking the day the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a United Nations agency, was...

Oral health of particular importance to elderly, study shows

FARMINGTON, Conn., U.S.: Numerous studies have established that oral health can play a significant role in systemic health. A new review study has found ...

JDR highlights importance of behavioral sciences in dentistry

ALEXANDRIA, Va., U.S.: This year marks the centennial of the Journal of Dental Research (JDR), a peer-reviewed medical journal that disseminates new ...

In-depth look at oral health and healthy ageing during 2018 World Oral Health Forum

Each year, the FDI World Dental Congress features the World Oral Health Forum (WOHF), an in-depth session meant to spark discussion on the latest topics ...

Oral health study of dental students highlights wider demographic issues

TOKYO, Japan: Over the past few decades, Japan has put a tremendous amount of effort into improving the population’s oral health. However, in a recent ...

Smoking during pregnancy may harm child's tooth development

OTAGO, New Zealand: A study conducted by researchers at the University of Otago has found that women who smoke more than ten cigarettes a day while pregnant...

Smoking during pregnancy may harm child’s tooth development

OTAGO, New Zealand: A study conducted by researchers at the University of Otago has found that women who smoke more than ten cigarettes a day while pregnant...

Excessive bleeding: ADA highlights importance of medical history taking in dentistry

SYDNEY, Australia: Taking a thorough medical history is vital as it helps to identify conditions that may affect dental treatment and consequently reduces ...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 29 April 2024
12:30 pm EST (New York)