GUM disease not only affects you the woman, but also your unborn child. It is remarkable how oral health can affect nearly every facet of our lives. Fetal development is another condition that can be directly influenced by the health of our mouths. It has been observed that periodontal (gum) disease can adversely affect pregnancy outcome, increasing the risk of delivering pre-term and low-birth-weight babies. Mothers of pre-term and low-birth-weight babies have a significantly greater incidence of periodontal disease.
Research shows that pregnant women with periodontal disease are seven-and-a-half times more likely to have a premature or underweight delivery, and the more severe the disease, the greater effect it has on the baby.
Many years ago when I was the dentist based at the Bartica Hospital and also had responsibility for Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), we had a programme whereby all pregnant women were routinely referred to the dental department for an oral examination and treatment whenever it is considered crucial to their pregnant condition.
Low birth weight is considered 5.5 pounds (2,500 g) or less. The birth weight of an infant is not just about size; it has a significant impact of the baby’s health. An infant’s birth weight is the most potent single indicator of the infant’s future health status. A low-birth- weight baby has a statistically greater chance than a normal weight baby of developing diseases, and of dying early in life. About one in every 13 infants born in the US is a low-birth- weight infant, and about one-fourth of those die within the first month of life.
How does oral bacteria affect a developing fetus? Studies show that bacteria commonly found in the mouth and associated with periodontal diseases can find their way into the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. Amniotic fluid is a liquid that surrounds an unborn baby during pregnancy. Any contamination of the amniotic fluid, such as bacteria, could potentially be dangerous to both the mother and baby.
Another problem linked to oral health that can occur during pregnancy is preeclampsia. This is a serious condition that occurs during the second half of pregnancy. It is characterized by high blood pressure and water retention. Additional symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and visual disturbances.
Preeclampsia occurs in about one out of every 20 pregnancies. Untreated, it may develop into eclampsia, a life threatening form of toxemia that can cause severe convulsions, kidney failure, and even death for the mother or fetus.
In three clinical studies, researchers at Tulane University in New Orleans determined that dental treatment led to a 57 per cent reduction of low-birth-weight deliveries, and a 50 per cent reduction in pre-term births.
It is estimated that 60-75 per cent of pregnant women have gingivitis.  If a pregnant woman suffers from constant vomiting, the acid can severely erode the enamel of the teeth. To avoid this, the woman should rinse the mouth with a solution consisting of 1 tablespoon of baking soda mixed in 1 glass of water, after every episode of vomiting.
Women who are pregnant, or are considering becoming pregnant, should pay particular attention to their dental health to assure that they and their babies have the best health possible.