Oral prophylaxis for the reduction of interdental dysbiosis-associated red complex pathogens during pregnancy: a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Periodontal disease during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia. Socransky's red complex pathogens including Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in six obstetric clinics in Senegal between March 2022 and January 2023. One hundred pregnant women, aged 18-40 and in their third month of pregnancy, were randomized into a test group using interdental brushes plus tooth brushing and a control group using tooth brushing alone. The outcome was the change in bacterial load from the third to eighth month of pregnancy, quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques. Results: By the eighth month, the test group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in total bacterial load compared to the control group, with a mean reduction of 36.6% (95% CI: 31.2-41.1%, Discussion: These findings suggest that adding calibrated interdental brushes to a conventional tooth brushing routine is more effective in lowering the bacterial load of harmful red complex pathogens in pregnant women. Conclusion: The results support the inclusion of interdental cleaning in prenatal oral health care guidelines as a strategy for managing periodontal risk during pregnancy.