Impact of Hormones and Lifestyle on Oral Health During Pregnancy: A Prospective Observational Regression-Based Study.

Background and

Objectives

This study explores the impact of hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and lifestyle factors on stomatognathic system (SS) health. The aim is to determine how pregnancy-related hormonal changes and oral hygiene behaviors affect the onset of stomatognathic issues, such as gingival inflammation (GI) and dental erosion (DE). Materials and

Methods

A prospective, observational study was conducted with 100 pregnant women, divided into two groups: Group A (60 women with significant stomatognathic alterations) and Group B (40 women without such alterations). Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of hormonal levels, oral hygiene habits, and vomiting episodes on stomatognathic health.

Results

Age and socioeconomic status showed no significant association with stomatognathic health (p > 0.05). In contrast, elevated levels of estrogen (p = 0.001) and progesterone (p = 0.003) were significantly linked to the severity of stomatognathic changes. Oral hygiene habits also had a statistically significant impact (p = 0.02), while vomiting frequency was not an important factor (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Hormonal changes during pregnancy, particularly increased estrogen and progesterone levels, are key predictors of stomatognathic health. These findings suggest that while oral hygiene is important, hormonal fluctuations play a dominant role in influencing stomatognathic system (SS) health during pregnancy.