Successful treatment for gum disease cuts the risk of pregnant women giving birth early, a research suggests.
The preliminary research on 160 women who were between six and 20 weeks’ pregnant showed those whose gum disease was not treated successfully were three times more likely to give birth before 35 weeks.
Doctors have previously established that severe gum infections cause an increase in the production of prostaglandin and tumour necrosis factor, chemicals which induce labour, to be produced.
The researchers found a “strong and significant association” between successful treatment and full-term births. Those whose treatment did not work were “significantly more likely” to give birth before 35 weeks.
Though the causes of preterm birth are multifactorial and many women with no periodontal disease may still have their babies early, it is recommended that pregnant women should take care of their periodontal health and receive appropriate treatment during their pregnancy to reduce as far as possible their chance of a pre-term birth.
[Source]
Chapter: Pregnancy :: 12 May 2010
