Poor Oral Health ‘Could Harm Babies’
By admin • Mar 18th, 2010Mums in the UK may be only too familiar with the nightly arguments that can break out when they try and convince their children to brush their teeth, but encouraging youngsters to maintain good oral hygiene is worth the trouble.
However, mums should also ensure that they are taking the best possible care of their own dental hygiene, as failure to do this could harm their unborn baby if they are pregnant.
Beverley Beech, honorary chair of the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services, said many parents are unaware that poor dental health could put infants at risk.
Her comments come after research carried out by the University of Pennsylvania found women with untreated gum disease were more likely to give birth before 35 weeks.
While dentists are aware of this fact, she claimed obstetricians, midwives and other healthcare professionals may not be as familiar with the dangers.
She added that when pregnant, it is important ladies look after their health in general and in particular that they enjoy a healthy diet.
"Their diet is very important. They should be having a good broad diet with lots of protein and green vegetables so that they get lots of vitamins as well," she advised.
According to the British Dental Health Foundation, some women’s dental health needs closer attention during pregnancy due to the hormone changes they experience.
Should their gums become inflamed or start bleeding, they are advised to visit the dentist, while also maintaining a high level of oral hygiene at home.
Did you know gum disease could lead to premature birth?
Pregnant women are more prone to having cavities. As cavities can easily be passed from the mother to their babies, expecting mothers should be more mindful of their oral health.