Dental health vital for pregnant women, say experts

Researchers from Case School of Dental Medicine (CSDM), Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), U.S., established that even healthy pregnant women could be at high risk of pregnancy-related problems if they neglect their oral health.

According to experts, dental hygiene is an important part of overall health, and it is even more important for pregnant women to avoid pregnancy-related health risks.

Study details
Research team conducted the experiment on pregnant mice, wherein they injected their tails with saliva from different people.

Some of them were injected with saliva from healthy people and others with saliva from people having periodontal disease that affects one or more of the periodontal tissues.

Researchers found that mice injected with saliva of people with dental plaque had oral bacteria which grew into their placentas--organ connecting the developing fetus to uterine wall for nutrition uptake and waste removal.

It was also found that the bacteria persisted to grow in the mice’s placentas even after 24 hours of separating it from the blood.

Other findings
This led the researchers to understand that several bacteria originating in the mouth travel through bloodstream and cause inflammation in the placenta, eventually impacting the overall health of the mother and unborn child.

This could also lead to miscarriages and still births, as known from various other studies, stated the researchers.

The study also contradicted earlier works which stated that infections were transmitted through the vaginal tract.

It, thus, gives evidence that inflammation is actually caused due to bacteria that reach the placenta or amniotic fluid (nourishing and protecting liquid around the mother’s fetus) via mouth.

Researchers explained that bacteria can be transmitted through the mouth via cuts or other infections like gingivitis or periodontitis.

These oral problems destroy the mouth’s defenses known to prevent bacteria from entering the bloodstream, stated the researchers.

Lead researcher, Yiping Han, department of periodontics, CSDM was quoted by The Times of India as saying, “We need to know which bacteria colonize in the placenta and design therapies for better treatments.”

According to American Dental Association, fewer cuts in the mouth will reduce the odds of infections caused by oral bacteria and cut its chances to enter bloodstream and affect pregnancy.

The findings appear in the journal Infection and Immunity.