Preterm birth does not simply refer to when a child is born prematurely; it is a serious condition that can have several side-effects for the newborn baby. These kinds of births can have both short-term effects, such as respiratory aid, and long-term effects, such as poor health and growth. Because of all of these risks, preterm birth remains one of the leading causes of mortality in newborns. Thus, it should be taken seriously and prevented as much as possible.
A new study conducted in Malawi revealed a potentially simple and effective way to combat high mortality rates in newborns—through pregnant mothers chewing sugar-free gum. Specifically, gum that includes xylitol, a chemical that aids in oral health and replaces sugar. The women in the study chewed this gum during their pregnancy, resulting in a 24% reduction in preterm births compared to the control group that did not chew any gum. In addition to this, the oral health of the women who chewed the xylitol gum improved over time, demonstrating a correlation between oral health and preterm births.
A Premature Newborn With Respiratory Assistance
Image Source: IvanJekic
The researchers of the study found that since the mouth has an impressively complex microbiome, it would make sense that an unhealthy oral microbiome community would impact the development of a fetus in the womb. Furthermore, an imbalance in the types of bacteria in the mouth, from benign ones to mostly infectious ones, could impact the rest of the body by traveling through the bloodstream. One such disease in the mouth is periodontal disease, which could also lead to preterm births.
With this new discovery, xylitol gum could make for a simple, non-invasive strategy to help reduce preterm births in the general population. Though more trials and experiments need to be conducted throughout other parts of the world, the outcome of this study gives hope that a simple and impactful solution to prevent premature births exists. The outcome of this study may also lead to increased awareness about oral health and hygiene, not just for clean teeth, but also for a healthy body and interior microbiome.
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