Changes of Oral Microbes during Pregnancy and Its Effect on Premature Birth

Abstract

Premature birth, stillbirth, low birth weight babies, hypertension, and other negative pregnancy outcomes are all associated with women's dental health during pregnancy, according to several studies. Premature birth is a common complication of pregnancy. Premature birth refers to the birth of the fetus before 37 weeks of pregnancy, which is the main cause of death of children under 5 years old. Therefore, it is critical to comprehend the mechanism of premature birth and prevent it effectively. Existing studies have shown that pregnancy, especially in the early stage, promotes the proliferation of microbes in the mouth and promotes the colonization of periodontal pathogens. Gingivitis and periodontitis are more common in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women. The reasons for the changes of oral microbes during pregnancy may be the increase of maternal progesterone and estrogen, as well as the changes of immune system. The pH value of saliva will also decrease during pregnancy, which is related to oral diseases. At present, there are two mechanisms of premature birth caused by oral microbes. One is that oral bacteria reach the uterus through blood borne transmission, and intrauterine infection leads to premature birth. The other is that endotoxin released by bacteria will increase inflammatory mediators and trigger the release of inflammatory factors (such as interleukin and tumor necrosis factor) and prostaglandins in the uterus, leading to premature birth. This paper summarizes the changes and causes of oral microbes in women during pregnancy and the two mechanisms of oral bacteria leading to premature birth and puts forward some measures to prevent and treat oral diseases during pregnancy, so as to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of premature birth.