Think of the body as a great big jigsaw puzzle. All the tiny pieces fit together to form one complete thing. When constructing a jigsaw puzzle, even the pieces that seem like they wouldn’t work together ultimately come together to allow you to finish. Such is the case with the human body. All these various, seemingly unrelated parts can play vital roles in each other. So, as odd as it might sound, your oral hygiene really can affect your ability to achieve an erection.
In a study published in the Journal of Sex and Medicine, researchers revealed that poor oral hygiene can lead to erectile dysfunction. Namely, the development of periodontitis can serve as the death knell for your erection. Periodontitis is a gum disease which causes inflammation in the mouth, leading to the gums pulling away from the teeth, creating pockets in the mouth that can harbor bacteria. This bacteria can then weasel its way into the body, where it can damage the endothelial cells, which forms the protective lining on your blood vessels. This bacteria tends to attack the smaller blood vessels first, and some of the smallest blood vessels in your body lead directly to the penis. When these vessels are attacked, it can effect blood flow, which effects the bodies ability to supply blood to various parts of the body, which leads to blood not reaching the penis, which translates to erectile dysfunction.
So there you have it. In a roundabout way, not looking after your gums can lead to troubles in the sheets. If you’ve been dealing with gum swelling or oral pain, speak to your dentist and work to get to the bottom of the issue. If left unchecked, it could ultimately lead to your erection paying the price.
