The Link Between Oral Health And Fertility
Oral health is much more important than it looks and it seems to be linked to fertility. As we’ll see, decay isn’t just about aesthetics and can probably affect many other bodily processes.
Having good oral health means there are no diseases that affect the mouth and make it difficult for someone to bite, smile, chew or speak. It also includes conditions that affect a person’s psychological well-being.
For example, caries, ulcers or periodontitis mean poor oral health. The influence of this balance on the rest of the body functions and organs is currently being investigated.
Today’s article will focus on the impact of oral health on fertility. It will also discuss the relationship with pregnancy as both topics are closely related.
Gum disease
We need to explain periodontitis before we get into the relationship between oral health and fertility. This is because it appears to be the condition most closely associated with fertility.
Periodontitis is a condition that affects the gums. It consists of inflammation of this area and is usually due to poor oral hygiene. What happens is that tartar, a sticky layer made up of bacteria and food debris, builds up in this area.
Eventually, this tartar hardens and the gums become swollen and inflamed. It gets between the teeth and affects their structure in such a way that they can eventually fall out. Periodontitis can go undetected, but it can also lead to pain and bleeding gums.
What is the relationship between oral health and fertility?
Some common factors affect both fertility and oral health: smoking and aging, for example. However, it was only relatively recently that researchers began investigating the direct relationship between oral health and fertility.
According to the latest studies, certain bacteria involved in periodontitis are much more common in women who cannot conceive and have a baby.
What they found was that women who couldn’t conceive had a higher number of bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis. This seems to cause inflammation in the female genitals and thus affects the chances of getting pregnant.
According to scientists at the University of Western Australia (link is Spanish), women with periodontal disease can spend up to seven months trying to conceive.
Interestingly, there is also a link between oral health and other diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and arthritis. However, the discovery of this possible mechanism related to fertility is quite new.
What is the relationship between oral health and pregnancy?
The truth is that pregnancy affects the whole body as hormone levels that regulate and deregulate physiological mechanisms change during the process. Both estrogens and progestins affect oral health.
It is common for oral problems to develop from the second month of pregnancy. This is because the aforementioned hormones alter the bacterial balance of our gums. They therefore become much more susceptible to any infection.
Estimates indicate that nearly 2/3 of pregnant women experience gingivitis during pregnancy. In addition, there seems to be a link between periodontitis and certain complications in the development of the baby. For example, it could be related to premature birth.
For this reason, professionals recommend paying close attention to oral health. Especially if you are considering getting pregnant or are already pregnant. Consult your dentist regularly and maintain good oral hygiene.
