This paper reports on oral health-related characteristics, beliefs and behaviours among 222 pregnant Māori women participating in a randomised controlled trial of an intervention to prevent early childhood caries among Māori children. The women were randomly allocated to Intervention or Delayed groups. There were no systematic differences between these groups at baseline, other than those in the Delayed group being slightly older, on average. Around 37.0% were expecting their first child. Most reported good health; 43.6% were current smokers, and 26.4% had never smoked. Current use of alcohol was reported by 8.2%. Almost all were dentate, and 57.7% described their oral health as fair or poor. Toothache in the previous year was reported by 1 in 6 respondents; 33.8% reported being uncomfortable about the appearance of their teeth, and 27.7% reported difficulty in eating. Use of dental services was relatively low and symptom-related; 78.9% needed to see a dentist. Overall, most of the sample believed that it was important to avoid sweet foods, visit dentists and to brush the teeth, while about half thought that using fluoride toothpaste and using floss were important. Drinking fluoridated water was considered to be important by 38.2% of the women. There was evidence of oral health-related fatalism: 74.2% believed that most people usually get dental problems; 58.6% believed that most people will need extractions at some stage and that most children eventually get dental caries.
