Oral Care for Nurse Educators Part 3: Pregnant and Perinatal Patients

Oral health care concerns often are addressed in health care setting where nurses can allay concerns, answer questions, and provide key wellness messages. This article is the 3rd in a series organized around stages of life and is the 1st that focuses on adulthood. Current advice emphasizes the importance of oral health during pregnancy as it can affect both the mother's overall health and the health of the baby. A mother with cavities is more likely to share the bacteria that cause cavities to her child in the 1st few months of life, even before the 1st tooth. This article will describe the crucial messages that a nurse can share that will make a big difference to both mother and child.