Want a baby? Look after your teeth

Women who want to have a baby should take good care of their teeth, claim experts.

Women who want to have a baby should take good care of their teeth, claim experts.

Published Jul 25, 2011

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Women who want to have a baby should take good care of their teeth, claim experts.

Gum disease could significantly delay the chances of conceiving, fertility specialists have found.

In the first study of its kind, researchers found women with gum disease took an extra two months to get pregnant compared with those who had healthy teeth and gums.

Gum disease - or periodontal disease in its severe form - is caused by a build-up of plaque. It leads to bad breath and bleeding gums and, if untreated, causes cavities, receding gums and tooth loss.

It is not clear how gum disease may trigger problems with conceiving, but infected gums may release chemicals which activate the immune system and inflame the womb lining. This could affect implantation of a fertilised egg.

Experts at the University of Western Australia in Perth carried out the study.

Lead researcher Professor Roger Hart said: “Women should be encouraged to see their dentist to have any gum disease treated before trying for a baby.”

The researchers questioned almost 4 000 women who were 12 weeks pregnant. A total of 26 percent were confirmed to have gum disease.

They found delays in conceiving among those aged 35 and over, smokers and obese women. But there was a higher level of gum disease - one in three - among the women who took more than a year to get pregnant. Of those who had healthy gums, only one in four took longer than a year.

Hart said there was also evidence gum disease in men impaired their sperm quality. – Daily Mail

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