Black maternal health in in crisis. Good dental hygiene could help expectant mothers

For several years, advocates have been calling for greater focus on disparities in health outcomes for Black women and their babies. Although Minority Health Month was celebrated in April, it is still an opportune time to elevate the conversation and raise oral health care in particular as a birth equity issue.  In a recent federal report, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows maternal mortality and other adverse outcomes associated with pregnancy or birth worsened significantly in 2020 and 2021, compared to the prior two years. Disparities also persisted, as the maternal mortality rate among Black or African American women was roughly 2.5 times greater than white women during these years, according to the analysis. We’ve seen some progress, as government interest and action has intensified in the past several years. We need these big leaps and policy changes, but we can also utilize other beneficial approaches. More:Maternal and mental health care are among the disparities 2024 equity report identified Poor oral health can be dangerous for pregnant women Part of a healthy pregnancy includes maintaining optimal oral health to protect against oral bacteria associated with pre-eclampsia/toxemia, eclampsia, premature birth, low birthweight babies and other adverse...