Healthcare

A surprising findings just presented at the 89th General Session and Exhibition of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) on March 17, 2011.

The researchers said that using mouthwash in women with periodontal disease (a disease of fleshy tissue between tooth and tooth socket that hold the tooth in place) effectively reduce the risk of preterm birth.

According to the study authors, the increase of preterm birth may caused by periodontal bacteria that increase inflammation not only in women’s mouth, but also infected to other organs.

This suggestion appeared after Marjorie K. Jeffcoat, DMD, from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues enrolled 204 women at 6 to 20 weeks of gestation who had periodontal disease and who had refused standard dental care, as many of them fear it might harm their fetus.

All of participants given with toothbrushes and toothpaste and instructions in oral hygiene, and randomly received over the counter of mouthwash (mouth rinse group) that had active ingredient of cetylpyridium chloride (49 participants) with no alcohol, and remains (155 participants) identical bottles containing water. Both of those groups advised to rinse.

Overall, according to the findings, compared with 21.9% of untreated group who experienced with preterm birth (defined as birth at less than 35 weeks), the mouth rinse group only about 6.1%.

Also, compared with untreated group who had babies’ birth weight was about 2633 ± 63.56 g, the mouth rinse group was about 3087 ± 133.50 g.

However, according to other experts, although this findings is amazing, however, it seems to soon to claim this conclusion, and therefore, much larger clinical trials are needed.