According to Reuters, pregnant women are safe to be treated for gum infections and do not need to worry about their baby’s health, says a new study. The concern among dentists had been that treating the problem could cause bacteria to get into a mother’s bloodstream, where it could reach the fetus. A new study published in the journal of Pediatrics found that women can be confident about receiving dental treatment without causing meaningful effects on their baby’s development.
Dr. Bryan Michalowicz, a dentists at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis and his colleagues tested more than 400 two-year olds who had been born to mothers with gum disease. Half the mothers had been treated with aggressive cleaning including scaling and planing during pregnancy, while the rest had not. The researchers found that kids did just as well on language, motor and mental tests regardless of whether their mothers had received gum disease treatment while pregnant. The treatment did not seem to cause any developmental delays, as previously feared.
It is important for women to maintain good oral health. However, pregnant women are more susceptible to gum disease due to hormonal changes. The standard antibiotic treatment is not recommended because it stains the baby’s teeth. Previously, it has been feared that aggressive treatment may cause brain development issues of the fetus. Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection that breaks down gum tissue and can cause serious health problems including tooth loss.
