Illustration symbolizing the impact of maternal diabetes on a developing baby's salivary glands.

Diabetes During Pregnancy: How It Impacts Your Baby's Oral Health

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Research reveals that maternal diabetes can cause lasting damage to the development of offspring salivary glands."

Diabetes during pregnancy can significantly impact a baby's development, with potential long-term consequences. While much is known about diabetes' effects on various organs, the impact on the developing salivary glands of offspring has been less clear. New research is changing that, revealing how a diabetic environment in the womb can alter the structure and function of a baby's salivary glands.

Salivary glands are essential for oral health and digestion. These glands produce saliva, which is vital for removing bacteria, maintaining pH balance, and breaking down starches. If maternal diabetes impairs salivary gland development, it can lead to a lifetime of oral and digestive health issues for the child.

This article dives into a detailed study on how maternal diabetes affects the submandibular glands (a major salivary gland) in rat offspring. We'll explore the biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural changes observed, translating complex scientific findings into clear, understandable insights for parents and expectant mothers.

How Maternal Diabetes Changes Salivary Gland Development

Illustration symbolizing the impact of maternal diabetes on a developing baby's salivary glands.

A study examined the submandibular glands of rat offspring born to diabetic mothers. These offspring were assessed at two and four weeks after birth to identify specific changes. Using quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR), the researchers measured the mRNA levels of various indicators related to gland development, cell growth, and programmed cell death.

The findings revealed that maternal diabetes has a significant impact, leading to decreased expression of key factors:

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF): Reduced, impacting cell growth
Cytokeratin 5 (CK5): Reduction, affecting epithelial cell progenitors.
Cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and Aquaporin 5 (AQP5): Reduction, affecting differentiation markers.
Bcl2: Reduction of this antiapoptotic marker.
Bax: Increase of this apoptotic marker.

These changes suggest a cascade of effects: impaired saliva secretion, increased risk of gland tumors, altered oral flora, decreased protein synthesis, and potential for xerostomia (dry mouth) and dental caries (cavities). Additional studies indicated a loss of normal gland structure with increased fibrosis. The affected glands also showed defects of polysaccharides in the acinar cells, indicating compromised function.

What These Findings Mean for Your Child's Health

This research highlights the critical need for managing diabetes during pregnancy. The study's conclusion emphasizes that maternal diabetes produces degenerative effects on the structure and function of offspring salivary glands. These effects have implications for both oral and digestive health, potentially setting the stage for long-term complications.

Expectant mothers with diabetes should work closely with their healthcare providers to maintain optimal blood sugar control. This proactive approach can minimize the adverse effects on their baby's developing salivary glands and promote better overall health outcomes.

Further research is needed to fully understand the long-term consequences and explore potential interventions. However, these findings provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals and parents, underscoring the importance of early intervention and preventative strategies to safeguard a child's oral and digestive well-being.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205372, Alternate LINK

Title: Postnatal Changes In The Development Of Rat Submandibular Glands In Offspring Of Diabetic Mothers: Biochemical, Histological And Ultrastructural Study

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: PLOS ONE

Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Authors: Abir El Sadik, Enas Mohamed, Ahmed El Zainy

Published: 2018-10-10

Everything You Need To Know

How does diabetes during pregnancy affect a baby's salivary glands?

The research indicates that maternal diabetes can impair the development of a baby's salivary glands, specifically impacting the submandibular glands. These glands are vital for saliva production, crucial for oral health and digestion. Impairment can lead to reduced saliva, affecting the removal of bacteria, maintaining pH balance, and breaking down starches. This can create a cascade of issues, including increased risk of oral diseases and digestive problems.

Why are salivary glands so important for a child's health?

Salivary glands are essential for a child's oral health and digestion. They produce saliva, which performs multiple vital functions. Saliva helps in removing bacteria from the mouth, maintaining the proper pH balance to protect teeth, and initiating the digestion of starches. If the submandibular glands or other salivary glands are not properly developed due to factors such as maternal diabetes, these crucial functions can be compromised, leading to an increased risk of oral and digestive health problems like cavities, dry mouth (xerostomia), and potential digestive issues.

What specific changes did the study find in the salivary glands?

The study found several key changes in the submandibular glands of offspring due to maternal diabetes. There was a decreased expression of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Cytokeratin 5 (CK5), Cytokeratin 7 (CK7), Aquaporin 5 (AQP5), and Bcl2. Additionally, there was an increase in Bax. These alterations signal impaired cell growth, affecting epithelial cell progenitors, affecting differentiation markers, and an increase in programmed cell death. Moreover, the loss of normal gland structure with increased fibrosis was observed. These changes ultimately impact saliva production and gland function, setting the stage for long-term health issues.

What is the significance of reduced EGF and CK5 in the study's findings?

Reduced levels of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Cytokeratin 5 (CK5) are significant findings. The reduction in EGF impacts cell growth within the developing salivary glands. The reduction of CK5 affects epithelial cell progenitors. These factors are critical for the glands' normal development and function. Disruptions in these factors can lead to structural changes and functional impairments in the salivary glands, leading to poorer oral health.

Why is it important to manage diabetes during pregnancy based on these findings?

This research underscores the critical importance of managing diabetes during pregnancy to protect a child's oral and digestive health. Maternal diabetes has been shown to produce degenerative effects on the structure and function of offspring salivary glands, specifically the submandibular glands. These effects can lead to a lifetime of increased risk for oral diseases, such as dental caries and xerostomia, as well as digestive complications. Proper management of diabetes during pregnancy helps ensure that the child's salivary glands develop normally, supporting their overall health.