Effects of Bad Oral Hygiene during Pregnancy: the Prenatal Period and Early Childhood

MESA, Ariz. - Aug. 26, 2013 - PRLog -- Perhaps the last thing that comes to mind, for any newly-pregnant mother, is the state of their oral hygiene. The fact is, however, that it is good practice to maintain an optimum level of oral hygiene during and after pregnancy.  Although it can be said at any state in one’s lifetime, good oral practices are necessary and preventative measures against certain complications for the child and the mother.

During the prenatal phase of pregnancy, one particular issue known to arise from bad oral hygiene, with possibly devastating effects, is gum disease.  Due to natural hormonal changes in the body, pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing gum disease.  Possible complications resulting from the disease are as follows:  negative effect on child’s development, a premature birth, or a low birth weight.

In addition to gum disease, there are many other common changes to the oral cavity resulting from pregnancy.  From the intense physiological changes to a woman’s body during the prenatal period, some of these possible effects include:  pregnancy gingivitis, benign oral gingival lesions, tooth mobility, tooth erosion, dental caries, and periodontitis.

Furthermore, during perinatal and early childhood periods, research shows that optimal maternal oral hygiene decreases the possibility of early childhood tooth decay.  From common parenting behavior, such as sharing silverware, oral bacteria are transmitted from mother to infant.  This process, if the mother suffers from bad oral hygiene, can contribute to the child developing tooth decay.

When preparing for pregnancy, or during, women don’t often think about their teeth.  However, it is a crucial component for a healthy mom, and a healthy child.  Ideally, one should see a dentist before pregnancy, but if this is not possible; at least once during.

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