Stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in early pregnancy are associated with the oral microbiome

Research has revealed associations between microbes of the gastrointestinal tract and stress, anxiety, and depression in pregnant or postpartum women. While these studies suggest a gut-brain-behavior axis, no studies have examined microbes of the oral cavity in relation to maternal mental health. We explored a potential oral-brain-behavior axis related to maternal mental health. Pregnant women in high trait anxiety or depression groups had higher oral alpha diversity, indicating higher species richness within samples. High and low recent life stress groups differed in beta diversity, reflecting differences in community composition. The oral microbiome is associated with stress and mental health in pregnant women, in ways different from the gut microbiome or in non-pregnant people. Understanding oral microbiome-mental health relations may reveal future microbial targets to improve maternal psychological wellbeing.