Pregnancy and Women’s Oral Health

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Oral Disease Risk Factors

Pregnancy and Women’s Oral Health Oral Anatomy, Terminology, and Examination Oral Disease Risk Factors

When taking an oral history, providers should focus on these risk factors for caries and periodontal disease.

Individual

  • Personal history of caries or periodontal disease
  • Low socioeconomic status
  • Medications that contain sugar or cause xerostomia
  • Chronic disease such as diabetes
  • Emotional or physical disabilities

Behavioral

  • Poor oral hygiene habits
  • High sugar-containing diet
  • Lack of routine dental visits
  • Alcohol and tobacco use

Environmental/Societal

  • Non-fluoridated community water
  • Poor access to dental and/or medical care

Race/Ethnicity

  • Social injustice and inequity affects overall health and health profoundly through stress and other means
  • There are fewer dental providers of colour
  • Dental providers may be less accessible in communities of colour (e.g. location, hours, transportation, etc)
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