Women’s Oral Health And Fertility

Oral health is much more important than it seems and is apparently related to women’s fertility. As we will see, oral health problems are not just about aesthetics, but can influence many other body processes.

Having good oral health means the absence of diseases that affect the mouth and prevent a person from biting, smiling, chewing or speaking. This type of disease affects the psychological well-being of people.

For example, caries, abscesses or periodontal disease means poor oral hygiene. Currently, the influence of this balance on the rest of the functions and organs of the body is being investigated.

Today’s article focuses on the influence of oral health on fertility. We will also discuss its relationship with pregnancy, as both topics are closely related.

Periodontal disease

First, we need to explain what periodontal disease is before analyzing the relationship between oral health and fertility. This seems to be the most common fertility issue.

Periodontal disease is a disorder that affects the gums. It consists of an inflammation of this area and occurs due to poor dental hygiene. What happens is that tartar, a sticky layer composed of bacteria and food debris, accumulates in this area.

Eventually, the tartar hardens and causes the gums to swell and become inflamed. It gets caught between the teeth and affects their structure. Teeth can fall out. Periodontal disease can go unnoticed, but it can also lead to pain and bleeding gums.

Oral health and fertility

Certain common factors influence both fertility and oral health: smoking and aging, for example.

However, only recently have researchers begun to investigate the direct relationship between oral health and fertility. According to the latest studies, certain bacteria involved in periodontal disease are much more common in women who cannot conceive a child.

What the scientists discovered is that women who could not conceive had a higher number of bacteria in the oral cavity, such as Porphyromonas gingivitis. This seems to cause inflammation in the female genitals, which affects the chances of getting pregnant.

In addition, according to scientists at the University of Western Australia, women with periodontal disease can spend up to 7 months trying to get pregnant.

Interestingly, there is also a link between oral health and other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and arthritis. 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, because the hormonal levels that regulate and deregulate physiological mechanisms change throughout the process. Both estrogen and progesterone affect oral health.

It is normal for oral problems to occur from the second month of pregnancy, because the hormones mentioned above alter the bacterial balance of the gums. Therefore, they become more susceptible to any infection.

Estimates indicate that almost two-thirds of pregnant women suffer from gingivitis. In addition, there seems to be a link between periodontal disease and certain complications in the baby’s development. For example, the disease could be related to premature birth.

For this reason, professionals recommend paying special attention to oral health, especially if you are thinking of becoming pregnant or already pregnant. Periodically consult your dentist and maintain proper dental hygiene!