Oral Health Awareness and Practices in Pregnant Females: A Hospital-based Observational Study

Overview

Journal J Indian Soc Periodontol

Date 2019 May 31

PMID 31143008

Citations 2

Authors

Mayank Hans

Veenu Madaan Hans

Namrata Kahlon

Piyush Kumar Rameshchandra Ramavat

Usha Gupta

Asim Das

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the oral health awareness, methods adopted to maintain hygiene, prevalent myths regarding oral health in pregnancy, and importance of oral health during pregnancy, to help formulate oral health program for pregnant females in partaking hospital.

Materials And Methods: A total of 225 pregnant females participated in the study. After complete demographic assessment of participants, a questionnaire was provided to them. Questionnaire included simple multiple choice questions on how they maintained oral hygiene, their oral health status, visit to the dentist, and barriers in seeking treatment. This was followed by a questionnaire regarding common myths and understanding of the importance of oral health during pregnancy which had three choices: true, false, and do not know. The results were expressed in percentages, and one sample -test for percentages was applied where ever required.

Results: Majority of participants self-reported some form of oral health problems with bleeding gums as a chief complaint leading the survey. Around half of the participants had never visited a dentist, and an abundant number of pregnant females reported safety concerns for developing the child as a reason for not taking any treatment during pregnancy. A highly significant number of participants were unaware of the importance of oral health during pregnancy and believed in age-old myths.

Conclusion: The oral health care still remains on the backseat in care provided to pregnant female. A complete overhaul of understanding through individual, family, and community counseling is required to spread awareness.

Citing Articles

Myths about Oral Health and Associated Factors in Pregnant Women in a Public Hospital in Peru.

Vera-Carpio M, Carranza-Samanez K, Dulanto-Vargas J Oral Health Prev Dent. 2025; 23:123-134.

PMID: 39973808 PMC: 11880829. DOI: 10.3290/j.ohpd.c_1845.

Misconceptions Regarding Essential Oral Health Care Amongst Pregnant Women Visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital in the State of Goa, India: A Descriptive Study.

Prabhudessai S, Gaunkar R, Kamat A, Pednekar G, Cacodcar J J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2023; 73(Suppl 1):30-36.

PMID: 37916011 PMC: 10615994. DOI: 10.1007/s13224-023-01793-5.

Unfavourable beliefs about oral health and safety of dental care during pregnancy: a systematic review.

Kamalabadi Y, Campbell M, Zitoun N, Jessani A BMC Oral Health. 2023; 23(1):762.

PMID: 37840149 PMC: 10577919. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03439-4.

References

Gaffield M, Gilbert B, Malvitz D, Romaguera R . Oral health during pregnancy: an analysis of information collected by the pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system. J Am Dent Assoc. 2001; 132(7):1009-16. DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.2001.0306. View

Offenbacher S, Lieff S, Boggess K, Murtha A, Madianos P, Champagne C . Maternal periodontitis and prematurity. Part I: Obstetric outcome of prematurity and growth restriction. Ann Periodontol. 2002; 6(1):164-74. DOI: 10.1902/annals.2001.6.1.164. View

Fitzsimons D, Dwyer J, Palmer C, Boyd L . Nutrition and oral health guidelines for pregnant women, infants, and children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003; 98(2):182-6, 189; quiz 187-8. DOI: 10.1016/S0002-8223(98)00044-3. View

SILNESS J, Loe H . PERIODONTAL DISEASE IN PREGNANCY. II. CORRELATION BETWEEN ORAL HYGIENE AND PERIODONTAL CONDTION. Acta Odontol Scand. 1964; 22:121-35. DOI: 10.3109/00016356408993968. View

Dortbudak O, Eberhardt R, Ulm M, Persson G . Periodontitis, a marker of risk in pregnancy for preterm birth. J Clin Periodontol. 2005; 32(1):45-52. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2004.00630.x. View

Lopez-Marcos J, Garcia-Valle S, Garcia-Iglesias A . Periodontal aspects in menopausal women undergoing hormone replacement therapy. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2005; 10(2):132-41. View

Al Habashneh R, Guthmiller J, Levy S, Johnson G, Squier C, Dawson D . Factors related to utilization of dental services during pregnancy. J Clin Periodontol. 2005; 32(7):815-21. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00739.x. View

Newnham J, Shub A, Jobe A, Bird P, Ikegami M, Nitsos I . The effects of intra-amniotic injection of periodontopathic lipopolysaccharides in sheep. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005; 193(2):313-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2005.03.065. View

Clothier B, Stringer M, Jeffcoat M . Periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes: exposure, risk and intervention. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2007; 21(3):451-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2007.01.005. View

10.

Barak S, Oettinger-Barak O, Machtei E, Sprecher H, Ohel G . Evidence of periopathogenic microorganisms in placentas of women with preeclampsia. J Periodontol. 2007; 78(4):670-6. DOI: 10.1902/jop.2007.060362. View

11.

Siqueira F, Cota L, Costa J, Haddad J, Lana A, Costa F . Intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, and preterm birth: adverse pregnancy outcomes and their association with maternal periodontitis. J Periodontol. 2007; 78(12):2266-76. DOI: 10.1902/jop.2007.070196. View

12.

Silk H, Douglass A, Douglass J, Silk L . Oral health during pregnancy. Am Fam Physician. 2008; 77(8):1139-44. View

13.

Katz J, Chegini N, Shiverick K, Lamont R . Localization of P. gingivalis in preterm delivery placenta. J Dent Res. 2009; 88(6):575-8. PMC: 3144059. DOI: 10.1177/0022034509338032. View

14.

Saddki N, Yusoff A, Hwang Y . Factors associated with dental visit and barriers to utilisation of oral health care services in a sample of antenatal mothers in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. BMC Public Health. 2010; 10:75. PMC: 2834630. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-75. View

15.

George A, Johnson M, Blinkhorn A, Ellis S, Bhole S, Ajwani S . Promoting oral health during pregnancy: current evidence and implications for Australian midwives. J Clin Nurs. 2010; 19(23-24):3324-33. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03426.x. View

16.

George A, Shamim S, Johnson M, Ajwani S, Bhole S, Blinkhorn A . Periodontal treatment during pregnancy and birth outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomised trials. Int J Evid Based Healthc. 2011; 9(2):122-47. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-1609.2011.00210.x. View

17.

Abiola A, Olayinka A, Mathilda B, Ogunbiyi O, Modupe S, Olubunmi O . A survey of the oral health knowledge and practices of pregnant women in a Nigerian teaching hospital. Afr J Reprod Health. 2012; 15(4):14-9. View

18.

Armitage G . Bi-directional relationship between pregnancy and periodontal disease. Periodontol 2000. 2012; 61(1):160-76. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0757.2011.00396.x. View

19.

Ide M, Papapanou P . Epidemiology of association between maternal periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes--systematic review. J Periodontol. 2013; 84(4 Suppl):S181-94. DOI: 10.1902/jop.2013.134009. View

20.

Chapple I, Van der Weijden F, Doerfer C, Herrera D, Shapira L, Polak D . Primary prevention of periodontitis: managing gingivitis. J Clin Periodontol. 2015; 42 Suppl 16:S71-6. DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.12366. View