Healthy gums, healthy heart...healthy baby?

Recently there has been talk about how having a healthy mouth and assertive treatment for gum problems can have a direct impact on your cardiovascular health. Well now it seems that your blood vessels aren't the only (seemingly) unrelated part of your body that is effected by how healthy your mouth is: women with gum disease are at an increased risk for premature birth of their babies, as well as low birth weight.

Unfortunately, they have yet to determine how treatment of periodontal disease during pregnancy affects the outcome, so it looks like being proactive and starting your pregnancy healthy is your best bet. Isn't it always?