Mothers with severe periodontal disease are seven times more likely to deliver pre-term, low-birthweight babies, according to a study of 124 pregnant women conducted at the University of North Carolina and published in 1996 in the Journal of Periodontology

Scientists think this link is due to the body's reaction to the bacteria in gums infected with periodontitis When you have periodontal disease, bacterial toxins attack the bone, ligaments and gums that surround your teeth. You essentially have a large open wound in your mouth that creates a doorway for bacteria to enter your body through your bloodstream.

One of your body's reactions to this infection is to produce more prostaglandins, which cause tissues to swell in response to the infection. During pregnancy, prostaglandin production rises gradually, ultimately peaking to induce labor. If you are producing extra prostaglandins in response to an infection in your gums, your body might interpret this as a signal to go into labor, and you could deliver your baby pre-term.

Researchers caution that periodontal disease does not necessarily cause early labor or low-birthweight babies, but evidence suggests that 18 percent of all low-birthweight deliveries could be attributable to periodontal disease.

Pre-term, low-birthweight babies aren't as healthy as they could be. Complications caused by early delivery or low birthweight account for 60 percent of infant deaths.

never been a more important time to pay attention to your oral health.