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CHICAGO, Mar 12 (Reuters Health) - Pregnant women with severe gum disease may be at higher risk of giving birth to a preterm infant, according to a US researcher.
Interim results from an ongoing study of 2,000 women in their second trimester showed that women with the most severe form of gum disease, also called periodontal disease, were seven times as likely to deliver before 32 weeks of pregnancy.
The findings add to a body of research showing that gum disease can cause premature delivery.
In their study, Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and colleagues categorized pregnant women as having healthy gums, or having moderate periodontal disease or severe periodontal disease. Gum disease is caused by a chronic bacterial infection and can lead to bone loss, damaged gum tissue and even tooth loss.
Based on the 1,313 women who have delivered so far, second trimester periodontal disease was found to be associated with preterm birth, Jeffcoat said at the 30th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research on Friday.
Women with moderate periodontal disease were 4.2 times more likely than women with healthy gums to deliver before 32 weeks gestation. Women with severe periodontal disease were 7.1 times more likely to deliver before 32 weeks gestation.
"Depending on how severe the disease was, there would also be more severe preterm consequences," Jeffcoat added.
Dr. Michael McGuire, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, told Reuters Health that hormonal changes that occur in pregnancy make a woman's mouth more hospitable to bacteria and therefore, to infection.
"These changes can have adverse effects on babies as well," McGuire said.
However, exactly how periodontal infection leads to preterm labor is not clear. McGuire said that the infection might increase levels of certain compounds that induce labor.
To prevent gum infections, McGuire recommends frequent brushing, flossing and visits to the dentist's office every 6 months. Antibiotics, particularly for pregnant women, are not recommended.
Jeffcoat has begun recruiting patients for a study that will examine the effect of dental care on the prevalence of preterm births among women with periodontal disease.
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