Pregnancy & Periodontitis

Periodontitis, also generally called gum disease or pyorrhoea, begins with bacterial growth in the mouth and may end -- if not properly treated -- with tooth loss due to destruction of the tissue that surrounds your teeth. It begins initially with inflammation of gums (gingivitis) and slowly progresses to involve the supporting structures of teeth thereby leading to periodontitis. A number of factors are responsible for this viz. poor oral hygiene, habits like tobacco & smoking, systemic illness like diabetes, hormonal changes like pregnancy.

            Of these, the association between periodontitis & pregnancy outcomes is long been studied and documented. There has been mounting scientific evidence suggesting that periodontal disease may play an important role as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth & low birth weight babies. These children are at an increased risk for poor health sequelae, posing a huge economic burden on the country & thus represent one of the greatest health challenges of the 21st century.

            Thus, maintaining a good oral hygiene should be a part of antenatal care in pregnant women. There should be an increase in the programs for pregnant women on the importance of oral health maintenance.

By addressing the cause, health promotion regarding gum diseases (periodontitis) can be done for pregnant women at a community level. This is important in view of the poor level of knowledge & attitude which prevail among the population regarding oral health in pregnancy.