New Study Shows Gum Disease Can Extend The Time That It Takes For A Woman To Become Pregnant

Dr. Ellie Kheirkhahi-Love DDS, MSD

The importance of maintaining a sound oral hygiene is often underestimated by women but new research has shown that presence of gum disease can by an average of two months extend the time that it takes for a woman to become pregnant. Researchers have for the first time been able to clearly demonstrate the significant impact of poor oral health on the time to pregnancy in women who are trying to conceive.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Professor Roger Hart informed that the ill effects of poor oral health on pregnancy are of the same degree as the effects ofobesity. He is the Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University of Western Australia (Perth, Australia) and Medical Director of Fertility Specialists of Western Australia.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the periodontium, i.e., the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Periodontitis involves progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth, resulting in the formation of periodontal pockets. If left untreated, it can lead to the loosening and subsequent loss of teeth. Periodontitis is caused by microorganisms that adhere to and grow on the tooth's surfaces, along with an overly aggressive immune response against these microorganisms.

The inflammation of the gums results in tissue destruction that can find its way into the blood circulation. Due to this, most forms of gum disease in earlier studies have been shown to play a significant role in heart disease, type 2 diabetes, respiratory and kidney disease, and problems in pregnancy such as miscarriage and premature birth. It is believed that about 10% of the general population suffer from gum disease which can easily be prevented by brushing teeth regularly and the use of dental floss.


Prof Hart said:

"Until now, there have been no published studies that investigate whether gum disease can affect a woman's chance of conceiving, so this is the first report to suggest that gum disease might be one of several factors that could be modified to improve the chances of a pregnancy."

Pregnancy planning and pregnancy outcome was analysed by scientists for 3,416 women out of a total of 3,737 who participated in the SMILE study, a study conducted in Western Australia.

They found that women with gum disease took an average of just over seven months to become pregnant - two months longer than the average of five months that it took women without gum disease to conceive.

The study also revealed that non-Caucasian women who had gum disease were at the highest risk of later conception and were more likely to take over a year to become pregnant compared to those without gum disease. Non-Caucasian women with gum disease faced an increased risk of 13.9% for later conception compared to only 6.2% for women who were free from gum disease. Caucasian women who had gum disease also took longer to conceive than those who were disease-free; however the difference was not statistically significant. 


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