If you are pregnant, you may be smiling a bit more because of how happy you are. Taking care of your teeth, mouth and gums during your pregnancy is an essential step to ensure that your grin never switches to a frown. Studies conducted by the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine have shown that “those who received dental health care before or during their pregnancy had nearly 50 percent less risk of giving birth to preterm babies preterm or babies with low birth weight than those who neglected their own dental health care.” Additional, a lack of dental care has also been linked to cases of stillborn babies.

One such incident affected a California woman. The woman had untreated gum disease and MSNBC.com has indicated that transference of the oral bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, was passed from the 35 year old to her unborn fetus via her bloodstream. The incident was reviewed by the Obstetrics and Gynecology and the doctors involved in the cause of the death was linked to the type of oral bacteria found in the woman’s mouth and her child’s stomach and lungs.

Hormonal changes are associated with pregnancy and that can trigger off changes in your oral health. Other statistics claim that 75 percent of pregnant women experience bleeding from their gums. Those experiencing the common sign of gum disease need to be cautious as The Journal of Periodontology has reported on cases oral bacteria from an expectant mother can appear in the amniotic fluid of some pregnant women, especially those at high-risk for a premature delivery.

The correlation between dental care and a healthy pregnancy cannot be ignored and professional dental care is a necessity for the sake of the mother and her unborn child. If you are considering starting a family, dental care is one expense that should be included in your budget.