Oral health in pregnancy

Descriptive study with an analytic component, on pregnant women that went for consultation to Maternidade Daniel de Matos (Coimbra, Portugal) during the second week of July 1997. 80 women were randomly selected and asked to answer a questionnaire, concerning level of knowledge towards oral health as well as dietary and oral hygiene habits before and during pregnancy. It was also quantified the dental plaque indicator by using a plaque staining method. The knowledge about oral health is globally speaking, insufficient; dietary habits are mainly cariogenic although pregnant women tend to lower their sugar intake. During pregnancy women rarely go to see the dentist, especially the less educated ones. The dental plaque levels are globally high, indicating oral hygiene habits of low quality