Gingivitis is a gum disease that develops over time for a variety of reasons, the most common being improper diet and poor dental hygiene, but hormones are also suspected to play a role. Because of the hormonal changes present in pregnant women they are particularly susceptible to periodontal disease. I addition, because mothers are supplying all of the nutrients to their developing fetus, traditional treatments for gingivitis have been questioned.
There are a few questions that medical professionals have had to ask in order to ensure the proper health and development of babies being carries by mothers with gum disease. One issue that has been brought up in the past is the possibility that traditional treatments for gingivitis, such as antibiotics, can stain the babies’ teeth. In addition, treating gingivitis with a more intense teeth cleaning may introduce bacteria into the mother’s bloodstream, thus passing it to her unborn fetus.
A new study shows that the treatment of gingivitis in pregnant mothers is not seriously detrimental to the overall long-term health of the baby. The study was conducted by Dr. Bryan Michalowicz, and included 400 2-year old toddlers. The study was published in the journal Pediatrics. Dr. Michalowicz is a dentist at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
In the study, half of the women were treated with an aggressive teeth-cleaning treatment, while the other half were not treated at all. A key question that was in need of being answered is whether or not gum disease in pregnant women affects the health and development of their unborn children. It has been hypothesized that periodontal disease in pregnant women can have adverse affects on the growth and development of their babies. If this were true the dental health of women would become a key focal point in addressing fetus health during pregnancy.
The results showed that in pregnant women, gum disease itself and the treatment of gum disease had no significant effect on the overall health and development of their babies after birth. It was found that children of mothers who had been treated for gingivitis performed no differently on any of the cognitive and developmental tests than the children of mothers who had not been treated.
The main findings in this study supported that pregnant women should in fact be treated for gum disease. While no definitive health or developmental benefit can be identified for their unborn children, mothers do not risk harming the overall health of their children by getting treated for gingivitis.
As with any medical issue, consult with your Obstetrician before making any decisions regarding your babies’ health.
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