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Oral Health, Anxiety, Depression, and Stress in Pregnancy: A Rapid Review of Associations and Implications for Perinatal Care Adeniyi, Abiola A.; Ramachandran, Swathi; Jevitt, Cecilia Marie

Abstract

Research demonstrates associations between oral health and specific mental health conditions in the general population, yet these relationships remain understudied during pregnancy, despite pregnancy’s profound effects on both oral and psychological well-being. Our rapid review examines current evidence on associations between oral health conditions and psychological states (anxiety, depression, and stress) during pregnancy, aiming to inform and strengthen integrated prenatal care strategies. Following PRISMA-RR guidelines, we conducted a systematic search on OVID Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO (January 2000–November 2024) for studies examining relationships between oral health conditions (periodontal disease, dental caries) and psychological status during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum. Systematic screening of 1201 records yielded 22 eligible studies (13 cross-sectional studies, 3 longitudinal cohort studies, 3 comparative studies, 2 prospective studies, and 1 case–control study). Analysis confirmed significant associations between oral health and psychological well-being during pregnancy through three pathways: psychological (dental anxiety directly limits oral healthcare utilization), behavioral (maternal depression reduces oral health self-efficacy), and physiological (elevated stress biomarkers correlate with periodontal disease, and periodontal therapy is associated with reduced salivary cortisol). These interactions extend intergenerationally, with maternal psychological distress showing significant associations with children’s caries risk. Evidence suggests interactions between oral health conditions and psychological states during pregnancy, warranting integrated care approaches. We recommend: (1) implementing combined oral–mental health screening in prenatal care, (2) developing interventions targeting both domains, and (3) establishing care pathways that address these interconnections. This integrated approach could improve both maternal and child health outcomes.

Item Metadata

Title
Oral Health, Anxiety, Depression, and Stress in Pregnancy: A Rapid Review of Associations and Implications for Perinatal Care
Creator
Adeniyi, Abiola A.; Ramachandran, Swathi; Jevitt, Cecilia Marie
Contributor
BC Centre for Disease Control
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Date Issued
2024-12-29
Description
Research demonstrates associations between oral health and specific mental health conditions in the general population, yet these relationships remain understudied during pregnancy, despite pregnancy’s profound effects on both oral and psychological well-being. Our rapid review examines current evidence on associations between oral health conditions and psychological states (anxiety, depression, and stress) during pregnancy, aiming to inform and strengthen integrated prenatal care strategies. Following PRISMA-RR guidelines, we conducted a systematic search on OVID Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO (January 2000–November 2024) for studies examining relationships between oral health conditions (periodontal disease, dental caries) and psychological status during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum. Systematic screening of 1201 records yielded 22 eligible studies (13 cross-sectional studies, 3 longitudinal cohort studies, 3 comparative studies, 2 prospective studies, and 1 case–control study). Analysis confirmed significant associations between oral health and psychological well-being during pregnancy through three pathways: psychological (dental anxiety directly limits oral healthcare utilization), behavioral (maternal depression reduces oral health self-efficacy), and physiological (elevated stress biomarkers correlate with periodontal disease, and periodontal therapy is associated with reduced salivary cortisol). These interactions extend intergenerationally, with maternal psychological distress showing significant associations with children’s caries risk. Evidence suggests interactions between oral health conditions and psychological states during pregnancy, warranting integrated care approaches. We recommend: (1) implementing combined oral–mental health screening in prenatal care, (2) developing interventions targeting both domains, and (3) establishing care pathways that address these interconnections. This integrated approach could improve both maternal and child health outcomes.
Subject
pregnancy; oral health; anxiety; depression; stress; biopsychosocial pathways; integrated prenatal care
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2025-02-03
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
CC BY 4.0
DOI
10.14288/1.0447908
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/90311
Affiliation
Medicine, Faculty of; Non UBC; Family Practice, Department of
Citation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22 (1): 32 (2025)
Publisher DOI
10.3390/ijerph22010032
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty; Researcher
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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CC BY 4.0