OBJECTIVE:

to describe characteristics of oral health care during prenatal check-ups and knowledge about oral health among pregnant women using public and private health services in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.

METHODS:

this is a descriptive study of 300 women interviewed in public health services and a further 300 interviewed in private health services between August 2007 and July 2008.

RESULTS:

tooth brushing frequency was similar among users of public and private services (p=0.156), while flossing (64.0% and 47.0%; p<0.001) and mouthwashing (39.7% and 27.0%; p=0.001) was more frequent among private service users in relation to public service users; most users of public services (60.3%) and private services (65.7%) were unaware of the association between oral health and pregnancy.

CONCLUSION:

frequency of tooth brushing was similar among pregnant women in public and private services; the effects of pregnancy on oral health were not well known.

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