An Australian study suggests that pregnant women with gingivitis (gum inflammation) can reduce their risk of premature delivery and increase their baby’s birth weight by receiving treatment for oral infection.

Joerg Eberhard, chair of Lifespan Oral Health at the University of Sydney School of Dentistry and Charles Perkins Centre, where the study was conducted, noted in a press release that hormonal changes make pregnant women particularly susceptible to gingivitis. He said between 60 and 75 percent of pregnant women have the condition, with potential negative consequences.

“Oral infection can have systemic effects in the body,” Eberhard said. “Gingivitis releases inflammatory markers and bacteria into the systemic bloodstream, which may reach the placenta and induce poor pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery.” 

The study, which was published in Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry, concluded that if a pregnant woman with gum inflammation receives treatment, her risk of delivering a pre-term baby is reduced by half.

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Information sourced by Jonathan Richter, DDS, FAGD, owner of Cariodontal, located at 310 E. Shore Rd., Ste. 101, Great Neck, NY (516-282-0310 / Cariodontal.com), and Manhattan Oasis Dentistry, 525 West End Ave., Ste. 1G, New York, NY (212-874-2880 / ManhattanOasisDentistry.com).