The bacterial growth and metabolic activity causes bad breath and tooth decay. Poor dental hygiene has been linked to serious problems with premature pregnancy. Marjorie Jeffcoat at a Periodontology Congress in Washington D.C. showed that there was increased incidence of premature birth by pregnant women with bad gums. Woman with any sort of periodontal disease may be up to seven times more likely to deliver a premature baby. Even pregnant women with little gum disease also run the risk early term delivery.
Babies born prematurely have developmental problems later in life.
Health service costs increase caring for prematurely born babies. These babies also stay longer in hospital. Although bad oral hygiene is undesirable for everyone, it is even worse for pregnant women and babies. There is thus urgent need for pregnant women to maintain very good oral hygiene. Genitourinary infections, smoking and excessive alcohol drinking are other major risk factors in periodontal disease.