Survey: Oral care lacking in pregnant women

Pregnant women and babies are not getting enough dental care, according to the results of a survey commissioned by Delta Dental Plans Association.

The association released other findings from its survey in September.

Fully a quarter of pregnant women didn't see the dentist at all during pregnancy and 38 percent visited the dentist just once, the survey found.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, about 50 % of women get "pregnancy gingivitis," a disease that makes the gums sore and swollen, Delta said in a press release. In some studies, pregnant women with gum disease have given birth to low-weight or pre-term babies who are at risk for many serious diseases including chronic lung disease, brain injury, motor and sensory impairment, learning difficulties and behavioral problems.

Dentists can identify gum and teeth problems during a routine checkup. Besides brushing, flossing, and chewing sugar-free gum, women should get a thorough dental exam if they are planning to become pregnant, Delta said, adding that they also should get their teeth cleaned professionally once they are expecting.

Delta's 2009 Children's Oral Health Survey also found that caregivers recognize the importance of oral health care for infants, but don't seem to understand the techniques that promote oral health.

"On one hand, more than three in four survey respondents strongly agree that giving children sugary treats or a bottle of juice to go to sleep can cause cavities. And nearly two-thirds of those we surveyed strongly agreed that it is important to clean a baby's gums daily," said Jed J. Jacobson, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., chief science officer and senior V.P. at Delta Dental, in the release. "But 35% of caregivers say they actually clean their baby's gums just a few times a week or less. Dentists recommend that caregivers wipe the bay's gums with a wet washcloth twice a day, including once just before bedtime.

"Also, only 40% of the respondents strongly agreed that caregivers can pass dental disease to their child by sharing items such as spoons or straws, or by cleaning a pacifier in their own mouth and giving it to the baby."

He said caregivers should wash the pacifier with soap and water, rinse, and then return it to the baby.

"Many Americans don't understand how important their children's baby teeth are to lifelong oral health," Dr. Jacobson said. "There's a continuing need for more education to teach practices that will ensure lifelong oral health. And, since people overwhelmingly prefer the dentist as their primary oral health information source, dental benefits that encourage visits to the dentist are crucial."

The survey was conducted by Morpace. It randomly interviewed 914 primary caregivers of children ranging in age from newborn to 11 years for 15 minutes each. Respondents with multiple children were asked to think about their youngest child when answering questions.