Want to Have a Baby? See Your Dentist

For some women who are having trouble getting pregnant, the problem could be gum disease. A new study from Australia involving more than 3,500 pregnant women, found that those who had gum disease took about two months longer to conceive than the average among women who didn't have gum disease. The delay was even longer - more than a year - among non-Caucasian women, the researcher from the University of Western Australian reported at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology meeting in July. Gum disease causes inflammation that can pass into the blood stream and has been linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, respiratory and kidney disease and pregnancy problems including miscarriage and premature birth, the study noted. The investigator reported that the effect of gum disease on fertility is equal to the negative influence of obesity. Bottom line: when considering pregnancy stop smoking, avoid alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, take folic acid supplements and see your dentist.

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Posted in: Dentist,Health,Periodontitis,Pregnancy