Does gum disease cause premature births?
• Studies have shown that women with gum disease may deliver premature or low-birth-weight babies. • However, there is nothing to suggest that the gum disease is the cause of the premature birth, or low birth weight. • These problems often seem to occur in the same women. • There is a possibility (but no evidence) that toxins released by gum disease may affect the weight of the baby, or cause the cervix to dilate prematurely, causing a premature birth.
