Oral Hygiene Practices and Awareness of Pregnant Women about the Effects of Periodontal Disease on Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract

Objectives. Adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm low birth weight (PTLBW), is a severe public health issue that needs to be dealt with by educating the general female population, dental practitioners, and gynecologist. One of the major contributing factors is periodontal disease, which accounts for about 18.2% of all PTLBW cases worldwide, and prevention of the same could reduce the occurrence of PTLBW babies. This study aimed to assess the oral hygiene practices and awareness of pregnant women about the effect of periodontal disease on pregnancy outcomes. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted where 400 pregnant women after consent were requested to complete an anonymous, self-administered, structured questionnaire with twenty-one close-ended questions. Results. Only 5% of participants in this study reported that gum diseases during pregnancy lead to preterm labor or low birth weight babies. About 70.7% of pregnant women mentioned that they did not use any interdental cleaning aids, and 54.5% did not use mouthwashes. Conclusion. Tooth brushing practices among pregnant women were good; however, there was an overall lack in the use of adjunctive aids. The study highlighted a deficiency in the awareness of pregnant women regarding the association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Awareness of Periodontal Health among Pregnant Females in Government Setting in United Arab Emirates

“…This low percentage of patient knowledge is in accordance to findings from other populations within the region (5–11%). 29 41 53 Most of the participants in the present study were aware that smoking has a negative effect on the pregnant mother and baby, which agreed with other findings. 29 53…”

“…39,40 Moreover, a recent cross-sectional review have confirmed an overall lack of application of adjunctive tooth brushing practices like interdental aids and mouthwashes in pregnant women within UAE. 41 While a majority of participants (65%) demonstrated satisfactory oral home care routine, there is a need to emphasize the importance of introducing interdental brushes for mechanical plaque control, that aid in disruption of biofilm from the interdental spaces, accounting for around 30% of all teeth surfaces. More than half of pregnant females visited a dentist only with pain prior, during, or after pregnancy, while 6% had never visited a dentist.…”

Leveraging Dental Stem Cells for Oral Health during Pregnancy: A Concise Review

“…Increasing evidence indicates that oral health plays a crucial role in maternal well-being and can affect the health of the developing fetus. Several authors have provided a relevant contribution to the significance of oral health maintenance during pregnancy, offering insights into preventive measures, management strategies, and collaborative efforts necessary among healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care for expectant mothers [3][4][5]. Pregnancy is a unique stage of a woman's life, marked by profound physiological changes, including fluctuations in hormone levels, which in turn exert significant effects on oral health [4,6].…”

“…These hormonal shifts, particularly elevated levels of estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), establish a setting favorable to oral health changes that, in turn, may favor the occurrence of gingivitis and periodontitis. Indeed, gingivitis, characterized by inflammation of the gums, is highly prevalent during pregnancy, affecting up to 60-75% of pregnant women [3,7]. Moreover, periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease involving progressive destruction of periodontal tissues, is exacerbated during gestation [3,7,8].…”

“…Indeed, gingivitis, characterized by inflammation of the gums, is highly prevalent during pregnancy, affecting up to 60-75% of pregnant women [3,7]. Moreover, periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease involving progressive destruction of periodontal tissues, is exacerbated during gestation [3,7,8]. Table 1 provides an overview of oral health indicators and their correlations with pregnancy-related complications.…”