Maternal and Pediatric Oral Health: Impact of Social Determinants

Abstract

Previous research has determined a definitive relationship between maternal oral health and hygiene and pediatric health. This has especially been investigated in the context of pediatric oral health; it has been found that maternal oral health can serve as a direct predictor of whether a child will develop early childhood caries due to colonization of maternal cariogenic bacteria. It has also been shown that maternal oral health can predict whether children will struggle with caries in adulthood. This finding demands the question of how directly maternal oral health predicts pediatric outcomes. How much of an influence does maternal oral health have upon pediatric health and wellbeing, and how influential are social determinants of health upon these outcomes? This project consisted of a comprehensive literature review examining the impact of a mother’s oral health on the overall health of her children. Studies were chosen for review on the basis of their focus upon mothers in the United States, and upon their discussion of social determinants of health which could impact maternal oral health. The findings of this literature review revealed that social determinants of health such as medical inequality, social status, discrimination, income, and education level have the potential to impact maternal oral health and therefore pediatric health. The implications of these findings are broad and could catalyze improvements within healthcare, education, and policy in Montana and across the United States.