Dental Health, Acidogenic Meal, and Snack Patterns Among Low‐Income Women During Early Pregnancy: A Pilot Study

Hyperglycaemia and factors associated with dental caries in immediate postpartum women

Objective: Dental caries and hyperglycaemia share common risk factors. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with dental caries in women in the immediate postpartum period. It also verified whether women with hyperglycaemia presented more dental caries than those with normal glycaemia.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 297 women recruited from a teaching hospital in Brazil (from October 2011 to November 2012). Dental caries and oral biofilm were evaluated by oral examination. The blood glucose was accessed by Haemoglobin A1c test. Information on socioeconomic characteristics, harmful habits and oral health habits was also gathered.Results: More than half (66%) of the women had carious lesions. Univariate analysis showed no association between hyperglycaemia and dental caries (p = .39). The hierarchical logistic regression model showed that the following variables were associated with dental caries: maternal education level ≤8 years (ORadjusted = 2.40 [CI 1.19-4.82]), previous children (OR_adjusted = 1.81 [CI 1.08-3.03), use of dental floss (OR_adjusted = .48 [CI 0.27-0.86]), and visible plaque index ≥30% (OR_adjusted = 1.83 [CI 1.05-3.20]).Conclusions: These findings call attention to the need to implement effective public policies directed at avoiding tooth decay in pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Pregnant Women regarding Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs following Oral Health Education in Pune District of Maharashtra: A Longitudinal Hospital-based Study

INTRODUCTION

Pregnancy is a natural process that may create some changes in different parts of the body including the oral cavity. These changes will lead to oral diseases if enough and timely care of oral cavity is not taken. Women may experience increased gingivitis or pregnancy gingivitis beginning in the second or third month of pregnancy that increases in severity throughout the duration of pregnancy. To motivate the patient toward oral health and implement the needed prophylactic measures, a longitudinal study was planned to observe the effect of oral health education during pregnancy on knowledge, attitude, practice, oral health status, and treatment needs (TNs) of pregnant women belonging to different socioeconomic groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A longitudinal study was conducted among 112 pregnant women belonging to different socioeconomic groups to assess the effect of oral health education on knowledge, attitude, practice, oral health status, and TNs. The demographic details, knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant women, and oral health status were collected through a predesigned questionnaire by a principal investigator through an interview. Oral health examination was carried out to assess oral health status using revised World Health Organization Proforma 1997, and oral health education was given through PowerPoint presentation to the participants in local language, i.e., Marathi, after collecting the baseline data. Reinforcement of oral health education and blanket referral was done at 14th week, and follow-up data were collected at 28th week of gestation. The demographic details, such as age, sex, education, occupation, income, and the questions based on knowledge, attitude, and practice among participants were analyzed using number, percentage, and mean.

RESULTS

At baseline, knowledge was limited, attitude was positive, while the practice was poor regarding oral health care during pregnancy in pregnant women belonging to different socioeconomic groups. After oral health education and blanket referral, at 28th week of gestation, knowledge regarding oral health care improved drastically, attitude toward oral health became more positive, whereas practice did not change much among all the pregnant women belonging to different socioeconomic groups, probably indicating sociocultural influences.

CONCLUSION

Intensive oral health education during pregnancy leads to drastic improvement in knowledge and attitude. Practice, gingival health, and the number of filled teeth also improved to some extent.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Regular oral health education programs should be conducted at community level among pregnant woman to reduce the burden of oral diseases.

Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Nurses toward Oral Health and Oral Health Care of Pregnant Women

BACKGROUND

This study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of medical nurses regarding oral health and oral health care of pregnant women.

METHODS

This cross sectional study of 133 nurses in the district of Tumpat, Kelantan (Malaysia) used self-administered questionnaires.

RESULTS

Most nurses knew that dental plaque is associated with periodontal disease (97.7%). However, most nurses erroneously believed that tooth decay (86.5%) and excessive sugar consumption (87.2%) led to periodontal disease. About half of the nurses knew about the relationship between periodontal disease of pregnant women and low birth weight (43.6%) and preterm birth (48.9%). Many nurses had the misconception that the developing foetus draws calcium from the mothers' teeth (78.2%). Most nurses had good attitudes toward improving their oral health knowledge (97.0%) and agreed they should help to deliver oral health education to pregnant women (94.0%). Age, length of service as a nurse, and length of service in antenatal care had no effect on the scores for the nurses' knowledge and attitude regarding oral health and oral health care of pregnant women.

CONCLUSION

Medical nurses had limited knowledge about oral health of pregnant women and had some misunderstandings about oral health, although they had good attitudes. Age, length of service as a nurse, and length service in antenatal care had no effect on the knowledge and attitude scores of the nurses.