Expectant mothers concerned about the future of their offspring are wise to pay special attention to their dental care and general health during pregnancy to avoid any complications from arising. Previous research has indicated that women naturally experience a decline in dental health when with child and that can up the odds of a premature delivery. However, new information has indicated that using alcohol-free mouthwash two times can help increase the chances of a woman delivery a healthy full term baby.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of 8 babies delivered in the country are classified as preterm, meaning that the kids have arrived before 37 weeks gestational age, not the 40 weeks associated with a full-term birth. The early entrance to the world is the leading cause of death in newborns and can cause life-long health issues such as learning disabilities, Cerebral palsy, respiratory problems, vision/hearing loss, and potentially feeding and digestive issues. Fortunately, soon-to-be mothers can reduce the risks of delivering their children too early by making sure that visiting a dentist and practicing exceptional oral hygiene is part of the prenatal routine.

How Mouthwash Can Help

Mouthwash has long been used as a device for freshening bad breath and for quickly invigorating a mouth. A study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania has shown that a mouthwash rinsing routine can potentially be beneficial in reducing the vast number of preemies that annually enter the world.

The study analyzed 71 pregnant women, all of which were diagnosed with pregnancy gingivitis. Group participants were divided into two groups, one that rinsed their mouths with alcohol-free mouthwash twice a day and the other that only used water for their mouth rinsing rituals. Of the pregnant women who rinsed with mouthwash, the result was 1 in 20 delivered preemies, while 1 out of 5 water rinsers welcomed their children to the world earlier than anticipated.

Not only did the mouthwash uses experience lower levels of gum inflammation, based on these findings, the study team hypothesized that pregnant women who rinse with an alcohol free mouthwash twice a day can lower the risk of delivering a preemie by around 75 percent.

The Oral Health/Pregnancy Connection

Although close to 500,000 million preemies join the nation’s population annually, the causes for their early appearance are still varied and unexplained. The one exception is that a decline in dental health has long been linked to the issue and pregnancy gingivitis is one of the biggest contributors to the issue. According to the Journal of the American Dental Association, pregnant women with persistent gum disease are four to seven times more likely to give birth to a preemie than mothers with healthy gums and teeth. Their research indicated that worse the worse periodontal disease was, the earlier their children would be born with the study participants with the least healthy mouths delivering their kids at a scant 32 weeks into the gestation process.

Pregnancy will cause major hormonal fluctuations in a woman’s body and those changes have been linked to causing pregnancy gingivitis in 50 to 75 percent of all expectant mothers (WebMed.com). The dental problem is marked by women having higher than average levels of dental plaque caused by some type of low infection influenced by hormonal imbalances. Pregnant women can experience an increase levels of harmful oral bacteria as well as gum inflammation than their non-carrying counterparts.

WebMd.com notes that pregnancy gingivitis can kick off anywhere between the second and eight months of the process. Those affected with the condition may experience swollen gums that look more red than usual, an increase is bleeding gums (caused by brushing and flossing teeth) to major oral health issues such as full blown gum disease.

See a Dentist, Save Your Baby

Expectant mothers are wise to include practicing oral hygiene daily and visiting a dentist on their prenatal care to do list in order to reduce their odds of a premature bundle of joy. Brushing twice a day, flossing at least once, exercising and eating a nutritious diet have long been associated with lowering levels of dental plaque and delivering preventative dentistry at home and on a budget. Those behaviors backed by mouth rinsing similar to the study conducted in Philly can help keep dental health up to par and your baby’s delivery on schedule.

Those behaviors backed by regular exams and dental treatments implemented by a dentist can help. When it comes to ensuring dental health and delivering a healthy baby, 0900-DENTIST advises seeking professional dental care prior to becoming pregnant in the first place. Mothers are also encouraged to see a dentist at least once during their pregnancy, but to skip getting dental cleanings or dental work during the second and third trimesters as those are vital time periods for a child’s development in the womb.

No matter of if you are trying to get pregnant, are already a mother of five or are a man concerned about the well-being of their baby momma, 1-800-DENTIST has great dentists up to the task of implementing the right dental care to keep everyone safe and healthy.