Maternal gingivitis as a factor associated with low birth weight – a pilot study

Abstract

This study evaluated the existence of an association between gingivitis and low birth weight in the municipality of Feira de Santana. A case-control design was used, with a total of 185 women: 53 mothers of live births of low weight (case group) and 132 mothers of live births with normal gestational weight (control group). The existence of an association between gingivitis and low birth weight was evaluated by means of a multivariate logistic regression model that took into consideration other risk factors. The two groups of mothers were comparable with regard to age, height, pregestational weight, smoking, alcohol use, previous diseases, marital status, socioeconomic situation, frequency of tooth brushing, use of dental floss, number of meals per day and visits to the dentist. Logistic regression analysis showed that, among the puerperal women with gingivitis, the chance of having a child with low birth weight was 37% greater than for those without this disease, after adjusting for schooling level, thus indicating the existence of a positive association, albeit without statistical significance. It was concluded that gingivitis is a possible factor associated with low birth weight.