Prevention and oral hygiene in pregnancy

The aim of this article is to illustrate the oral hygiene protocols that pregnant women achieve to the Dental Institute ICP of the University of Milan. During pregnancy hormonal changes play an important role on the pregnant oral health. These variations are linked to a transformation of the bacterial oral flora. If the oral hygiene is not optimal, these bacteria could favour the establishment of new dental pathologies, especially periodontal ones. Periodontal infections might be a risk factor for the pre term birth. In fact, several studies linked births happened before the 37th week to infections. For this reason it is important that the pregnant follows a complete instruction and maintenance treatment plan about her oral health. In this contest dental hygienist, who works in order to prevent oral disease, plays an important role. In concordance to the recommendations of the American Academy of Periodontology, which suggest that all the pregnant might carry out a dental and periodontal visit and receive preventive and therapeutic operation, dental hygienist has to instruct the woman in order to give her the knowledge of the correct procedures for home oral hygiene and to motivate in time by following a periodical professional hygiene program. It is also important that dental hygienist explain to the pregnant how to modify her alimentary habits towards a diet with less sugar. A correct treatment plan for oral prevention of the pregnant might aim to assure oral and systemic good health to both mother and child.