Increase your intake of folic acid …Discontinue using birth control…And, visit your periodontist before becoming pregnant? Yes. Women contemplating motherhood may want to visit their periodontist or dental professional for a periodontal evaluation before becoming pregnant.

A non-surgical dental procedure may reduce the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with periodontal disease, according to new study findings. Nearly 12 percent of babies in this country are born preterm (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy), which increases their risk of death and lasting disabilities, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung and gastrointestinal problems, and vision and hearing loss.

Researchers found that women undergoing ovulation induction for infertility treatment for more than three menstrual cycles experience higher gingival inflammation, bleeding and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). This study appeared in the recent issue of the Journal of Periodontology

Periodontal inflammation plays a possible role in the development of preeclampsia, a potentially deadly condition that affects approximately 5 percent of U. S. pregnancies, according to a study in the Journal of Periodontology.