Moms Dental Health Could Affect Babys Birth

One type of bacteria -- Actinomyces naselundii - was linked to lower birth weight and earlier delivery. Another bacteria -- Lactobacillus casei -- was associated with a slightly higher birth weight and delivery date.

Different kinds of lactobacillus bacteria are found elsewhere in the body. For instance, they help with digestion. Possibly, the lactobacillus bacteria in the women's mouths helped keep the vaginal environment healthy, boosting the chances of a good delivery, says the study.

The researchers aren't sure how that works. Possibly, "oral bacteria and the molecules the body produces against them can enter the uterine environment through the bloodstream and may influence the delivery process," says Dasanayake in a news release.

Harmful oral bacteria have also been linked to greater risk of heart disease.Harmful oral bacteria have also been linked to greater risk of heart disease. A similar theory -- oral bacteria that flow through the blood to other parts of the body -- has been floated for that problem, too.

That's all the more reason to reach for your toothbrush. Monitoring oral bacteria levels could help reduce poor pregnancy outcomes, the researchers conclude.

Their study appears in the Journal of Periodontology's February issue.

SOURCES: Dasanayake, A. Journal of Periodontology, February 2005; vol 76: pp 171-177. WebMD Medical News: "Why The Infant Death Rate Went Up." WebMD Medical News: "Simple Measures Could Save Millions Of Infants." News release, American Academy of Periodontology. News release, New York University. WebMD Medical News: "Brush Your Teeth, Help Your Heart."