Oral Health is Important for You, Your Baby, and Your Pregnancy
April is Oral Health Month. During this month, you may see information about oral health for children, adults, and seniors. But did you know that oral health is important during pregnancy as well?
There is a lot of information available about how a pregnant woman can take care of her body in order to ensure the best possible outcome for her unborn child. However, until recently, taking care of her mouth, teeth, and gums during pregnancy was not given much attention.
Did you know that hormonal changes increase a woman’s risk for oral health problems during pregnancy? Poor oral health not only affects her health, but may also affect the health of her baby. Studies have suggested a potential link between severe gum disease (periodontitis) in pregnant women and premature and low birth weight babies. Premature birth can put a baby at risk of death within his first month and lifelong health problems such as chronic lung disease.
The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute realizes that many women do not have the information they need – or have incorrect information – about good oral health for themselves during pregnancy and for their babies during their first year. That is why we provide resources on oral health on our website at http://www.skprevention.ca/oral-health/.