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You signed up to receive this oral health newsletter when you visited the AAP Web site. We hope that the information you receive will prompt you to have a discussion with your periodontist or dental healthcare provider about the treatment needed to improve your overall health. This edition of the e-newsletter provides up-to-date information about oral health during pregnancy.
 Good oral health is always important. However, it may be especially important for expectant mothers, as recent research suggests that pregnant women with periodontal diseases may be up to seven times more likely to have a baby that's born too early and too small. Preterm births are dangerous for both baby and mother. They are the leading cause of neonatal death and can lead to life-long health problems such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and difficulties with blindness and lung disease.
Info from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition 
What Causes the Connection?
The likely culprit of this possible connection is a labor-inducing chemical called prostaglandin found in oral bacteria. Very high levels of prostaglandin are present in women with severe cases of periodontal disease. In addition, other research has identified bacteria commonly found in the mouth and associated with periodontal diseases in the amniotic fluid of some pregnant women. Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds an unborn baby during pregnancy. Any disruptions in the amniotic fluid, such as a bacterial infection, could potentially be dangerous to both the mother and baby.
Results of Research Studying 2,000 Pregnant Women
Periodontal Bacteria Found in Amniotic Fluid
What Should You Do?
Don't panic! Take your concerns to your dental professional. If you’re diagnosed with periodontal disease, your periodontist might recommend a common non-surgical procedure called scaling and root planing. During this procedure, your tooth-root surfaces are cleaned to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the root to remove bacterial toxins. Research suggests that scaling and root planing may reduce the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with periodontal disease by up to 84 percent.
More About Scaling and Root Planing
Attention, Women of All Ages!
It isn't just pregnant women who should pay special attention to their periodontal health; women of all ages should take action!
Consider the following results of two recent studies
- Women taking oral contraceptive pills were found to have more gingival bleeding during probing and deeper periodontal pockets than those who were not using oral contraception. It is important for women to alert their dental practitioners if they are taking medications such as oral contraceptive pills that may affect oral health.
- Postmenopausal women with periodontal bacteria in their mouths were also more likely to have bone loss in the oral cavity, a condition which can lead to tooth loss if not treated.
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