Importance of oral hygiene for pregnants women and newborns: an integrative review

Abstract

Objective: This integrative review had the main objective of investigating the importance of oral hygiene in pregnant women and newborns. Materials and methods: The bibliographic survey was carried out through online access to the Virtual Health Library (VHL Brazil), Pubmed (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System online) databases. Searches were carried out using the following descriptors: “pregnant women”, “oral hygiene”, “newborn”, “oral health”. The databases MEDLINE, PUBMED were used; English, Portuguese and Spanish languages; and between the years 2014 and 2024. Results: Most studies were carried out in Brazil, followed by Nepal, Spain, the United States and India, the duration varied from 1 to 3 years and the sample ranged from 97 to 1394 patients , being mostly female. In relation to the age group, the average range is 15 to 50 years old and when talking about the place of study, it is clear that there was a predominance in the public service. The main deleterious consequences (systemic and oral) resulting from poor oral hygiene for both the mother and the newborn. The most prevalent presentations were: premature birth, low birth weight, gingivitis and periodontitis. It is worth mentioning that periodontitis and gingivitis were exponentially more common. Conclusion: The conclusion of this integrative review shows that promoting awareness and access to preventive care is essential to guarantee the full health of pregnant women and babies, preventing short and long-term damage.