Oral health status of women during pregnancy and the postpartum period

Relevance. Numerous physiological changes affecting all body systems during pregnancy and the postpartum period can influence a woman’s overall health, including oral health. This underscores the importance of studying oral diseases that are most prevalent during these stages.

Materials and methods. A systematic search and analysis of global scientific literature published over the past 10 years was conducted using electronic databases including PubMed, Google Search, and eLibrary. Printed sources were reviewed according to the following inclusion criteria: women during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum, with uncomplicated pregnancies and vaginal deliveries, in whom the prevalence and severity of oral diseases were assessed. A total of 1843 sources were initially identified. After removing duplicates, 541 studies remained available for screening. Of these, 56 publications met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the systematic review and quantitative analysis.

Results. The available scientific evidence indicates both progression and structural changes in oral diseases during pregnancy. Among hard tissue conditions, acute dental caries and relapses were reported in 38–45% of cases. Early signs of periodontal disease typically appear by the second or third month of pregnancy and are correlated with gestational age, most often manifesting as catarrhal or hypertrophic gingivitis. Researchers also report an increase in dental plaque accumulation, progression of marginal gingival inflammation, and a shift in oral fluid pH toward acidity during and after pregnancy. Publications specifically addressing oral diseases in the postpartum period are scarce in both domestic and international literature. However, the limited available data suggest a continuing negative trend in oral health, extending up to two years postpartum.

Conclusion. Based on the available global literature, there is a clear need for further research into postpartum oral health due to ongoing adverse changes in the oral cavity and the overall lack of studies addressing this period.

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