Is oral health linked to miscarriages?
There is enough research available today to prove that your oral health could be linked to chronic disorders.
I remember a dentist once telling me that my dad’s back pain was because of his deteriorating oral health. I though he was just trying to make more money at that time, but now I know that it could actually be true!
Our bodily functions are interdependent and what you may consider an isolated issue could be affecting other areas of the body.
Take gum infection for example…
Periodontal disease is the infection of the gums and has mainly 2 types - gingivitis and periodontitis. You are more likely to suffer from them compared to the general population if you have diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), erectile dysfunction, or stroke.
The infection at the gum, triggers inflammation in your mouth. Bacteria from the infected mouth can then make its way into your amniotic sac (if you are pregnant) and affect the health of your growing baby.
Periodontitis has been linked with premature birth and even miscarriages.
Gum infection and PCOS…
A study that comprised women enduring PCOS indicated that these women had high chance of contracting gingivitis in comparison to women who did not have PCOS. What’s intriguing is that the research excluded candidates who were obese, diabetic, or who smoked. This means PCOS alone puts you at high risk of dental diseases.
Furthermore, when someone is diagnosed with periodontal disease, it could affect their fertility (in both, men and women).
Effect on male fertility.
Poor dental health could cause infertility in men as stated by research. Dental disorders generally allow bacterial growth in the mouth and this affects other functions of the body such as sperm production.
Delayed conception in women.
An Australian study found out that women took longer to get pregnant if they suffered from periodontal disease. The research found out that the women with bad dental health took 7.1 more months on average to conceive. This could add high stress to a woman’s life during this sensitive time.
Effect of pregnancy.
In pregnant women, bad oral health could go on to create more havoc. It could invite gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, premature birth, and late miscarriage.
Women could miscarry somewhere between 12 to 24 weeks if they have gum diseases, even if they take care of other aspects that may cause unfortunate pregnancy outcomes. Also, there are other studies that link tooth decay to premature births.
To conclude…
Many might infer from all the information that I have shared above that taking utmost care of your dental health is vital. Of course, that’s true. Irrespective of whether you are planning a baby or not, good oral hygiene could benefit you long-term.
However, my recommendation would be to get to the root cause of your dental issues. Genetics do have a role to play in it but why do dental problems keep recurring for you? Are you someone who is suffering from a chronic disease? Then let’s work together to change that.
Lifestyle changes, exercise regime, and eating right (not dieting!) could help you change the course of your life. If detected early, most chronic disorders can be reversed and this can protect you from inviting additional diseases.
Trust this helps,