Health in Expectation: Oral Hygiene in Pregnancy

A fresh study reveals new aspects of how oral hygiene affects pregnancy. Apparently, the level of oral hygiene can have a significant impact on the developing body of an unborn baby, based on a study that shows the presence of bacterial communities in the placenta.

Researchers from the College of Medicine in Houston conducted an in-depth study of microbial communities in the placentas of 320 pregnant women. The study revealed that the placenta, which nourishes the fetus through the umbilical cord, contains a community of bacteria, viruses and fungi, shattering the notion of it as a sterile organ. These microorganisms probably enter the placenta from the mother's mouth via blood.

Christy Egerd and her colleagues found that the placental microbiome more closely resembles the oral bacterial communities than the microbes present in the vagina, skin, or intestines. This suggests a possible link between oral health and microbial balance in the organ that provides nutrition to the fetus.

Interestingly, the correlation between gum disease and preterm labor has long been known. These study results confirm that the microbial composition in the placenta differs in women giving birth before 37 weeks.

It should be noted that experts urge to pay attention to the state of the oral cavity already before pregnancy, as the microbial balance can influence the development of the placenta from the earliest stages. However, scientists caution against far-reaching conclusions, emphasizing that the exact mechanisms of formation of the placenta microbial community require additional research.

The study provides a new perspective on the link between oral hygiene and the health of the unborn child. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining good hygiene for the health of both the mother and her baby.