The Link Between Periodontal Hygiene Status and Pregnancy: Awareness and Understanding Among Iraqi Pregnant Women

Objective: To evaluate oral health knowledge and habits, as well as awareness of periodontal hygiene, and its impact on pregnancy outcomes among Iraqi pregnant women. Material and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study involved a survey of 387 pregnant women in Baghdad city. To gauge their level of awareness and knowledge, a pretested, closed-ended questionnaire with nine items about oral health was given out. Results: A significant proportion of pregnant women surveyed appeared unaware of developing gingivitis during pregnancy. Regarding knowledge about the causes of pregnancy gingivitis, nearly half of the surveyed pregnant women (46.9%) were not aware of its origins. A majority of the surveyed pregnant women (72.7%) were unaware of the potential adverse pregnancy outcomes related to pregnant gingivitis. In addition, there was a significant difference in knowledge scores when comparing pregnant women based on their educational levels, and more than half of the women (56.25%) did not undergo their dental checkups during pregnancy. A substantial 82.7% of the surveyed pregnant women believed in the importance of receiving dental health education at the onset of pregnancy. Conclusion: The findings of this investigation supported the need for interaction between dental practitioners and gynecologists, including routine dental checkups during antenatal visits of pregnant women, as essential to develop and improve the habits of awareness of the need for periodontal hygiene during pregnancy. Furthermore, there was a significant association between educational level and awareness and knowledge among pregnant women about the relationship between periodontal health and pregnancy.