Saed News: A new study shows that chewing gum with xylitol reduces the risk of premature labor. These findings provide a cost-effective and simple measure to improve oral health care and prevent pregnancy complications.
According to the science and technology section of Saed News, citing ISNA, preterm birth is the leading cause of death for children under five years old. This is a serious issue, especially in countries like Malawi, where 20% of all births are preterm. The results of this study were published in the Med journal.
According to SF, Greg Valentine, a pediatric associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, says, "We were all surprised that such a simple intervention could have such a significant impact."
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol sweetener commonly added to gum, tablets, and candies. It helps reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth and promotes oral health by lowering the risk of gum disease. According to researchers, gum disease is linked to a two- to three-fold increase in the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.
While the exact mechanism explaining how gum disease affects the weight of preterm babies is unclear, one theory is that the inflammation caused by gum disease leads to this outcome. Another idea is that oral bacteria travel through the bloodstream to other organs in the body. A millimeter of dental plaque contains 100 million microbes, including harmful bacteria.
Previous research on xylitol shows that it helps stop the growth of bacteria commonly found in gum disease. Additionally, it is effective in reducing inflammation in gum tissue.
In one trial, individuals consumed xylitol before pregnancy and in early pregnancy to prevent preterm births. From May 2015 to October 2018, researchers tracked the pregnancies of over 10,000 women in Malawi. A total of 4,549 women were randomly selected to use xylitol gum, while 5,520 women in the control group received medication and traditional counseling.
In Malawi, a country with one of the highest rates of preterm births in the world, the results showed that chewing xylitol gum led to a 24% reduction in preterm births and a 30% reduction in low-birth-weight babies.
Valentine says, "We essentially know that gum disease is linked to preterm birth. This is especially significant in Malawi, as about 70% of pregnant individuals suffer from gum disease."
People in Malawi often lack the resources to prevent gum disease, such as deep cleaning to remove plaque from under the gum tissue and access to toothbrushes and toothpaste. There is also a continual shortage of resources, healthcare workers, and clean running water. According to the researchers, chewing gum would be an easy and affordable option to improve oral health in Malawi and other low-income countries.
The authors are also conducting another trial in Malawi, following 1,000 children born in this trial to study their neurological development between the ages of four and eight. The results of this trial will be ready by 2027. Additionally, another study will examine xylitol gum interventions among pregnant women living in low-income communities in Seattle.
