Misunderstandings about dental care and oral health during pregnancy can cause expectant mothers to skip dental visits and make limited use of available services. This avoidance may reduce adherence to oral hygiene routines and may have downstream effects on fetal health. The present study examined prevalent oral-health-related beliefs held by pregnant women in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Participants were recruited through the Family Medicine Obstetrics Clinic in London, Ontario, Canada. Eligible individuals were pregnant women aged 18 years or older, excluding only those who declined involvement. Each participant filled out a 33-item questionnaire that included three open-ended prompts on oral health beliefs and how these might influence pregnancy. These qualitative responses were analyzed for this project. NVivo software was used for thematic coding to identify repeated ideas. Sub-themes were created to organize the content, and the proportion and frequency of each category were calculated. A total of 130 pregnant women qualified for inclusion. Of these, 40.7% (n = 46) believed their oral condition could affect their child’s health, 48.2% (n = 53) thought dental procedures could influence fetal health, and 64.4% (n = 76) stated that pregnancy itself changes oral health. Many participants associated oral health issues in pregnancy with infection-related risks. Concerns were commonly expressed about the use of antibiotics, pain-relief medications, and dental x-rays during pregnancy. Frequently mentioned ideas about the effects of pregnancy on the mouth included increased sensitivity, tooth decay, inflammation of the gums, and the perceived loss of minerals from the mother to the fetus. The study identified several significant misconceptions about dental treatment and oral health among pregnant women in Southwestern Ontario. These findings demonstrate the need for stronger oral health education during pregnancy to correct inaccuracies and encourage appropriate dental care. Health professionals are advised to prioritize addressing misinformation, reassure patients about the safety of essential dental procedures, and reinforce the importance of maintaining oral health for both mother and fetus.
