Tooth loss tied to pregnancy

A new study suggests that the more babies a woman has, the more likely she is to lose teeth.

In a sample of 2,635 women ages 18 to 64 who had had at least one pregnancy, the number of teeth lost increased with the number of pregnancies. The association persisted even after controlling for age, smoking, socioeconomic status and the number of dental visits a woman reported. The study appears online in The American Journal of Public Health. Why this happens is not clear, but Stefanie L Russell, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of epidemiology at New York University, said that one possible reason was that pregnant women simply do not go to the dentist often enough. "I'm not sure why that's the case," she said.

"Previously it was thought that women should only be treated during the second trimester," in part because of fears of the effects of dental X-rays on the foetus. "But you have to look at the individual case and see what kind of treatment a woman needs," Russell said. "Preventive care during pregnancy is really important."

The authors cite studies showing rates of gingivitis and other dental problems in pregnant women ranging from 30 percent to 100 percent. Although disease usually subsides after giving birth, existing periodontal problems may worsen during pregnancy