Evaluation of oral health awareness in pregnants

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the time-dependent effect of verbal and practical oral health education provided by dentists on 6- to 22-week-old pregnant women whose pregnancy is followed up by family physicians in health centers. Methods: The study included fifty-four pregnant women participated. Oral hygiene education was given to the participants verbally and using a toothbrushing model. Periodontal indices such as the probing pocket depth (PPD), plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were measured and recorded at the first and third month follow-up. The IBM SPSS v.26 statistical software was used for statistical analysis. All data were analyzed using the dependent t test. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in the PPD and PI parameters at the end of the one month (p<0.05). There was a decrease in the GI, yet it was not significant. At the end of the third month, there was a significant decrease in the PPD. There was a significant increase in the PI and GI (p<0.05). Conclusion: Periodontal health status and oral hygiene habits should reach their optimum levels before pregnancy. In addition, follow-up appointments should be called during the whole pregnancy to ensure that oral hygiene habits are permanent.