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For a long time now, medical experts have suspected that there is an association between the risk for miscarriage and gum disease. Now they say they have proof. The first case has been documented in which oral bacteria was found to be responsible for the death of a near term baby. This study was published in the respected journal, Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Same Bacteria

The study reveals that a 35 year-old woman with gingivitis, a common disease of the gums, gave birth to a stillborn baby at 39 weeks gestation. The attending physicians were able to trace the bacteria that were found in the baby's stomach, lungs, and bloodstream to oral bacteria found in the mother's mouth. The death report was prepared by a microbiologist at Ohio's Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine.

Researchers feel that any infection poses a risk to the developing infant, via the amniotic fluid, or the fluid that surrounds the baby while inside the mother's uterus. Oral bacteria are no exception to this rule and that means that gum disease poses a true threat to both mother and infant. The common gum disease known as gingivitis is thought to affect thousands of women who are pregnant. 

Scientists have underlined the necessity for maintaining good oral health in women who plan to have a child. After the stillbirth, the mother underwent treatment for her gingivitis and was able to deliver a healthy male child after a second pregnancy.

More Susceptible

The British Dental Foundation states that the hormonal changes wrought by pregnancy leave women more susceptible to gum disease. Chief executive of this foundation, Dr. Nigel Carter commented, "This case has shown that improving oral healthcare amongst pregnant women can have a significant impact on an unborn baby. For some women, teeth become less of a priority while they are pregnant and this can also prove a big factor."

Carter went on to explain that a significant number of women find their oral health worsens during pregnancy. For some women, this means their gums have a tendency to bleed more easily, while those women who had gum disease prior to pregnancy will find that it progresses much more quickly during pregnancy. Dr. Carter advises pregnant women to spend extra time on their oral care. He suggests brushing twice a day, for a full two minutes each time, with fluoride-based toothpaste. Women should make sure that every surface of every tooth is cleaned free of debris.

In the UK, NHS dental treatment is free for pregnant women and through the child's fifth birthday.