Pregnancy outcomes from poor maternal oral health include which of the following?

• A. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) & preeclampsia
• B. Postpartum thyroiditis
• C. Neonatal jaundice unrelated to maternal health
• D. Neural tube defects

Answer: (A)

Poor maternal oral health can trigger a systemic inflammatory response that influences pregnancy physiology. Periodontal disease releases inflammatory mediators and bacteria into the bloodstream, which can contribute to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. These processes are central to both gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia, making them the outcomes most commonly linked to poor oral health during pregnancy.

Other listed outcomes have different primary causes: postpartum thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid issue occurring after delivery, neonatal jaundice is usually due to liver immaturity or blood group incompatibilities, and neural tube defects are more strongly tied to folate status and other non-oral-health factors.