A survey carried out in Italy on a sample of women of childbearing age shows widespread misinformation about the oral health of mothers and children. And yet the first thousand days of perinatal life are crucial for laying the foundations of a child’s oral health, as Prof. Luigi Paglia explained in an editorial in the European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry.
We now know that the factors that will shape a child’s future oral health are established during pregnancy and even earlier, while the pregnancy is being planned. These are the 1,000 days that run from conception to the child’s second year of life, a period that will influence the health of the mouth for a lifetime and in which the foundations of general health are laid, as we highlighted in a previous article.
Oral health is the result of continuous prevention. As we always tell our patients, more check-ups and dental hygiene mean less dental treatment! Dental disease often stems from misinformation, mistakes and neglect that begin in pregnancy and continue through the first years of life.
During pregnancy the mother-to-be faces an increased risk and/or worsening of periodontal disease, and a higher incidence of dental erosion and tooth decay. In turn, this can also lead to an increase in pregnancy-related complications such as premature birth and miscarriage.
Maternal diet, oral hygiene and lifestyle choices are the main factors influencing the health of both mother and child. Adequate nutrient levels during crucial periods of foetal development can lead to optimal programming of foetal tissue and give the child greater protection against chronic diseases later in life.
We therefore encourage all expectant mothers never to neglect their oral hygiene and to turn with confidence to dentists and dental hygienists to protect their own general health and that of their unborn child.
Source: “The first thousand days of mother and child: a lifelong investment in oral health!” by Luigi Paglia, European Journal of Pediatric Dentistry
Credits: photo by Yan Krukov on Pexels
