Using mouthwash may help to prevent premature birth
A study has revealed that using mouthwash can help to reduce the risk of premature birth.
The study, which was conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, found that mothers who were at a high risk of giving birth prematurely could reduce the risk of early labour by two thirds by using antibacterial mouthwash on a regular basis.
The findings of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The study was lead by Dr Marjorie Jeffcoat, a professor of periodontics at the university; the study involved around two hundred women who were in the early phases of pregnancy and were suffering from periodontal disease. Most of the pregnant women were not given formal dental treatment during the observation period but 49 of the expectant mothers were given antibacterial, alcohol-free mouthwash twice a day.
The results of the study found that 21.9 percent of the mothers who did not use mouthwash gave birth prematurely; in contrast, amongst the group of mothers that did use mouthwash, only 6.1 percent gave birth early. The babies from the group that used mouthwash were also heavier.
The results of the study were adjusted to take other factors, including maternal smoking and age into consideration; even after this adjustment, the team still found a significant reduction, of around two thirds, in the risk of premature birth.
Pregnant women are prone to developing gum disease as a result of hormonal changes taking place in the body; as a result, dentists advise all pregnant women to undergo regular dental check-ups and keep an eye on their oral health. Numerous studies have now found a link between poor oral health and complications during labour, premature birth and even stillbirth.
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