The Influence of Pregnancy on Sweet Taste Percepti

Authors: H Sonbul H Ashi E Aljahdali G Campus P Lingström

Publish Date: 2016/12/28

Volume: 21, Issue: 5, Pages: 1037-1046

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Abstract

Objectives Women undergo different physiological and oral changes during pregnancy and this may increase the risk of dental caries and other oral diseases The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in biofilm acidogenicity and correlate them to sweet taste perception in pregnant and nonpregnant women Methods Three groups of Saudi women participated in this crosssectional study 1 women in early pregnancy n = 40/mean age 296 years/DMFT 107 2 women in late pregnancy n = 40/295 years/DMFT 108 and 3 nonpregnant women n = 41/277 years/DMFT 123 Changes in plaque pH were determined by using colourcoded indicator strips before and after a 1min rinse with a 10 sucrose solution A taste perception test determining sweet preference and threshold levels was also performed Results A significant difference regarding plaque pH was seen between the early late and nonpregnant women when calculated as the area under the curve p  005 Regarding the taste perception tests taste preference and threshold were correlated p  0001 r = 06 Between the three groups a statistically significant difference was seen in taste threshold and taste preference respectively p = 0001 and p  0001 Conclusions The findings in this study suggest that pregnant women may undergo taste changes and experience lower plaque pH which may result in an increased risk of dental cariesWhat is already known on this subject It’s well known that women undergo several changes when pregnant which may affect their predisposition to medical and oral diseases However the exact cause for oral health changes is still not clear and assumptions have been made about different etiological factors What this study adds to this subject This study adds new information about oral health in pregnant women and how this may increase the risk for dental caries More in detail the plaque acidogenicity and how it differs between pregnant and nonpregnant women is in focusPregnant women experience several changes during pregnancy These modifications are not limited to systemic physiological and hormonal changes They include alterations in the oral cavity that make pregnant women more prone to oral infections Barak et al 2003 Specific preventive measures and treatments are needed during pregnancy to avoid oral infections Meyer et al 2014 These oral changes through pregnancy might be caused by different factors such as the changes in estrogen and progesterone hormones a lower immune response and oral bacterial changes Silk et al 2008It is known that pregnant women might be more susceptible to developing dental caries and have been found to have a higher prevalence of dental caries MartinezBeneyto et al 2011 Vergnes et al 2012 It has been suggested that dietary changes occurring in pregnancy such as an increase in the consumption of carbohydrates affect the susceptibility of pregnant women to dental caries Russell and Mayberry 2008 An increased craving for sweets and fast foods has been found among pregnant women in a recent study Orloff et al 2016 In addition other oral factors such as increased acidity in the mouth/saliva and a reduction in saliva production may also have an impact Russell and Mayberry 2008 A decrease in saliva production is usually accompanied by a decrease in plaque pH and an increase in the retention of dietary carbohydrates on the tooth surface Lingström and Birkhed 1993 The pH of saliva has been found to be lower in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women Rockenbach et al 2006 but no studies of plaque acidogenicity in relation to pregnancy have been performedIn relation to changes in dietary habits it is also important to consider smell and taste perception It has also been suggested that pregnant women may dislike the taste of toothpaste and oral mouthrinse products MartinezBeneyto et al 2011 The changes are known to occur most frequently during the early part of the pregnancy after which they decline by the end of pregnancy and usually disappear after delivery Brown and Toma 1986 Nordin et al 2004Other factors which may influence oral health are related to the pregnant women’s beliefs and attitudes such as a lack of dental checkups and treatment ResslerMaerlender et al 2005 In addition pregnant women might fear some of the dental treatments and their effect on pregnancy outcome ResslerMaerlender et al 2005 A lack of dental visits during pregnancy has been found among women who do not seek dental treatment prior to pregnancy Boggess et al 2010 Pregnant women may also refrain from the appropriate oral hygiene measures due to acid reflux nausea and vomiting MartinezBeneyto et al 2011 Vergnes et al 2012All the abovementioned factors may increase the risk of oral infections and their consequences in pregnancy An early assessment of oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal diseases and dietary recommendations are therefore important Silk et al 2008 In spite of our knowledge of pregnant women and the effect of pregnancy on general and oral health there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the correlationThe aim of the study was to compare the changes in sweet taste perception and plaque pH between pregnant and nonpregnant women including comparisons between early and late pregnancy This aim is based on the hypothesis that taste changes in pregnancy which may in turn influence the taste preference for sweet intake and dietary pattern and consequently increase the risk of caries The null hypothesis was that no difference would be found between pregnant and nonpregnant women and the two pregnant groups in terms of sweet taste preference and plaque acidogenicity

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