Can bad oral health affect my baby?

If you are a pregnant woman or a mother and have bad oral health, this can affect your baby. When you have bad bacteria in your mouth it can be passed to your baby if they touch your mouth and then put their hand in their own mouth. This is why it is important for mothers to keep their teeth and gums healthy.

For pregnant women, having bad oral health has been linked to low birth weight and preterm delivery. When you are pregnant you need to take extra care in keeping your teeth and gums healthy.