Two primary care health professionals from the Lanzarote Health Area, dependent on the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, have participated in a study on oral health during pregnancy published in the high-impact international scientific journal Frontiers in Oral Health.
The research, developed by midwife Francisco Suárez and dentist Beatriz Prieto, analyzes the knowledge, attitudes, and oral hygiene habits of a sample population of pregnant women consisting of 293 pregnant women, who were attended at the Titerroy and Valterra health centers, in Arrecife, as well as their relationship with clinical indicators of oral health.
The work, titled ‘Knowledge, Attitudes, Oral Health Practices, and Behavioral Factors Associated with Clinical Oral Health Indicators in Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Spain’, seeks to provide scientific evidence that contributes to improving oral health prevention and education during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, hormonal, immunological, and metabolic changes can increase susceptibility to oral problems such as gingivitis, cavities, and other periodontal diseases.
The importance of brushing
Among the main results, the study indicates that the frequency of tooth brushing is the behavior that shows the most consistent association with the clinical indicators analyzed. Women who brushed their teeth more frequently showed lower values of bacterial plaque, gum inflammation, and oral biofilm maturity. Likewise, nighttime brushing was associated with better results in these three indicators.
The data reflect that 96.6% of the participants brushed their teeth at least once a day, while 78.5% claimed to do so at night. The average brushing frequency was 2.29 times a day.
The research also examined knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to oral health. In this case, the associations with clinical indicators were more modest and varied depending on the parameter analyzed. The results therefore point to the importance of accompanying health information with practical recommendations on oral hygiene habits.
In this regard, the authors highlight the value of reinforcing oral health education during pregnancy follow-up, with guidance on brushing frequency, bedtime hygiene, and other effective preventive practices, as well as facilitating access to dental care.
The study has a cross-sectional observational design, so its results allow for the identification of associations, although not the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships.
The medical director of Primary Care, María Eugenia Perdomo, points out that the publication highlights the importance of collaboration between professionals and care settings to advance scientific knowledge and reinforce health promotion strategies. Likewise, it contributes to expanding the available evidence on oral health during pregnancy and on the role of daily habits in prevention.
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