Poor Periodontal Health Linked to GDM in Pregnant Women: Study

Dr. Shravani Dali

Poor Periodontal Health Linked to GDM in Pregnant Women: Study

Written By : Dr. Shravani Dali Published On 2025-10-15T20:45:40+05:30 | Updated On 15 Oct 2025 8:45 PM IST

Researchers have found in a new study published in BMC Oral Health that women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exhibited significantly worse periodontal health compared to healthy controls, suggesting a potential link between periodontal inflammation and GDM. The study also identified pregnancy weight gain as the strongest predictor of GDM risk.

The case-control study included 40 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM and 40 healthy pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Oral health was assessed using the Plaque Index, Gingival Index, Probing Depth, Clinical Attachment Level, and the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth index. The results revealed that women with GDM had significantly higher scores in the Plaque Index, Gingival Index, and Probing Depth, indicating greater periodontal inflammation. Additionally, the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth index was significantly higher in the GDM group, suggesting poorer overall oral health. These findings align with previous research indicating that periodontal disease can lead to elevated levels of inflammatory markers, which are also implicated in insulin resistance and the development of GDM.

Despite the observed differences in oral health, the study found no significant differences in most inflammatory markers between the GDM and control groups, except for eosinophil levels, which were lower in the GDM group. This suggests that while periodontal disease may contribute to systemic inflammation, other factors may also play a role in the development of GDM. The study's authors caution that the relationship between periodontal disease and GDM is complex and multifactorial, and further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms involved.

What this really means is that maintaining good oral health during pregnancy may be an important factor in managing GDM risk. The study highlights the need for healthcare providers to consider oral health as part of prenatal care and to educate pregnant women about the importance of oral hygiene in preventing periodontal disease. However, the authors emphasize that more research is needed to establish a definitive causal relationship between periodontal health and GDM.

Keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus, Periodontal health, Inflammatory markers, Pregnancy weight gain, Oral health, BMC Oral Health, Isa Temur, Eosinophil levels, Plaque Index, Gingival Index

Reference:

Temur I, Dönertas SN, Dönertaş AD, et al. Association of periodontal diseases with inflammatory markers and gestational diabetes: a case-control study. BMC Oral Health. Published online October 8, 2025. doi:10.1186/s12903-025-06929-9

Gestational diabetes mellitusPeriodontal healthInflammatory markersPregnancy weight gainOral healthBMC Oral HealthEosinophil levelsPlaque IndexGingival Index

Source : BMC Oral Health

Dr. Shravani Dali

Dr. Shravani Dali has completed her BDS from Pravara institute of medical sciences, loni. Following which she extensively worked in the healthcare sector for 2+ years. She has been actively involved in writing blogs in field of health and wellness. Currently she is pursuing her Masters of public health-health administration from Tata institute of social sciences. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.