While your gums and your penis are pretty much located on opposite ends of the body, you would be surprised to find out how much one can affect the other. So if you’ve found friends are frequently standing upwind to avoid your less than stellar breath, you may find yourself experiencing erectile issues in the very near future.
But what is the correlation between gum issues and a failing erection? Well, the answer is simple: both problems are caused by inflammation. Inflammation is a common medical term, but many aren’t certain as to what it exactly means. In plain terms, inflammation is the body’s immune response in action. So, if you’re having issues with your gums, your body will spring into action and initiate a response, which will lead to your gums becoming inflamed, which makes them appear red and swollen.
Gum disease can lead to tooth decay and bacteria developing in the mouth. These pesky bacteria can then slip into the bloodstream, where it runs rampant on blood vessels. The blood vessels then become damaged, which will affect the flow of blood throughout the body. When gum disease-associated bacteria attack blood vessels, it’s the smallest vessels that are affected first. One of the smallest blood vessels in the body is the vessel that leads to the penis, supplying the penis with blood for erections. When this vessel comes under attack, blood flow is slowed or downright halted, which leads to missed erections.
So there you have it; what’s happening all the way up in your mouth can eventually lead to issues on your penis. Gum disease related erectile dysfunction has been found to be very common, with a recent study of 80 men afflicted with ED finding that 53% of the men also suffered from severe gum disease.
So if you’re looking to save your mouth and your erection, the solution is simple: practice good oral hygiene. Brush twice every day, floss, and visit the dentist regularly. If you keep a close eye on your mouth, your chances of ED will diminish drastically.