Can dental hygiene affect fertility? 2026

For a decade there has been increasing interest in the possible links between oral health and bodily health. A few years ago, for example, a doctor who suspected heart disease might not think to refer the patient to a gum specialist. But times have changed, and doctors are taking a much more holistic approach to the overall health of all their patients.

Thus, a study published a few years ago found that people who suffered from some type of severe gum disease were 40 percent more likely to have a chronic condition, in addition to the gum condition itself. In fact, we now know that poor dental health can lead to many serious health complications, such as heart disease, diabetes, and even stroke.

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Most of us know that our dental health is extremely important, because directly or indirectly it can end up affecting the rest of our body. However, what few people know is that dental hygiene could also affect fertility, and the ability to achieve pregnancy. It has also been shown that poor dental hygiene can also negatively affect in vitro fertilization treatment.

What's more, research carried out to date has shown that good oral hygiene can improve both conception and fertility, and not only in women, but also in men.

The fairly close relationship between oral hygiene and female fertility

In the case of women, periodontitis (gum disease) is known to prolong conception time. Additionally, when it occurs during pregnancy, it increases the risk of preeclampsia, premature birth, and other serious related problems. And it is known that most of the problems related to oral health are mainly due to periodontitis.

But what is gum disease and what does it consist of? Also known medically as periodontitis, it consists of a serious gum infection caused by the accumulation of bacteria on the teeth and gums. As the infection progresses, teeth can become damaged, as can bones.

At first it begins as inflammation (gingivitis), which causes the typical bleeding of the gums when we brush our teeth or floss. In addition, it is also possible to notice some discoloration on the teeth, which is known as plaque, and which consists of an accumulation of both bacteria and food debris on the teeth.

Other symptoms also arise, in addition to bleeding, such as bad breath, receding, red, swollen or sensitive gums, accumulation of tartar or plaque on the teeth, bad taste in the mouth, changes in the position of the teeth (or loose teeth), pain when chewing and, in a much more advanced stage, tooth loss.

Dental health and male fertility

Different scientific studies have found that men with poor oral health are more likely to suffer some type of infertility, especially when compared to men with normal sperm health. Whether it is periodontal disease or excessive cavities.

While it is true that erectile dysfunction (inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse) is not an obvious sign of male infertility, those who experience it tend to be more likely to suffer from gum disease. Furthermore, poor sperm motility, low sperm count, abnormal morphology and evidence of bacterial infection in semen are some of the problems commonly associated with various oral and dental health problems in men.

But specialists do not know for sure why oral health (dental or gum) directly affects male fertility. They do know that different oral conditions - such as dental infections, cavities and gum diseases - involve a high growth of bacteria in the mouth. These levels could in turn cause increased levels of bacteria in other parts of the body.

Bacteriospermia occurs when a bacterial infection is found in the semen, and is usually diagnosed by semen analysis, with an abnormally high white blood cell count. Thus, a study published in 2018 found that poor oral health in men was associated with a higher risk of bacteriospermia.

On the other hand, since the body is fighting an infection (and tooth decay is indeed an infection), the body's normal immune response can be accelerated, so although this response is mainly concentrated in the mouth, it can also end up causing an increase in inflammation throughout the body, which can cause healthy cells to end up being attacked by the immune system, such as developing sperm.

Useful tips to improve dental health

For all the above reasons, maintaining good oral hygiene could be very helpful when it comes to maintaining adequate fertility. And, as we have seen, not only in women, but also in men, since the possible connection between dental health and fertility applies to both sexes equally. Therefore, there is no doubt that it is worth spending time taking care of our dental health, especially if we take into account that we have our teeth for life.

We must keep in mind that the risk of developing periodontal disease depends on a wide variety of factors, including genetics, health habits, the presence of other diseases and conditions, and oral hygiene itself. While it is true that it is not possible to have control over genetics, we can have control over health habits and how we take care of our mouth.

Below, we provide you with some simple tips and tricks that could be very helpful:

• Brush your teeth twice a day. Although it is a routine and quite basic habit, not all people follow it. It is recommended to brush your teeth properly after getting out of bed, and before going to bed at night. And cleaning includes brushing your teeth and gums well.
• The importance of regular dental cleanings. Carrying out regular dental cleanings is the best option to maintain both healthy gums and oral health. In addition, regular check-ups can be very helpful in detecting - and treating - possible cavities before they cause major problems. In fact, when you experience dental pain, it is most likely that the dental infection is already quite developed.
• Treat cavities. In most cases, it is not enough to maintain adequate dental hygiene and clean your teeth and gums several times a day. If we have a cavity, and our dentist finds it, he or she should treat it quickly and not delay.
• Floss regularly. Brushing your teeth and gums every day is not enough. It is also important to floss when maintaining proper gum health. In fact, if we are not in the habit of flossing, it does not matter if we brush our teeth two or three times a day: the gums could be very inflamed and end up developing gingivitis or periodontitis. Therefore, regular flossing is essential. We may also need to use an interdental brush.
• Rinse with water after each meal. As many experts believe, it is not necessary to brush your teeth after each meal, but rinsing your mouth with water after eating can help a lot, as it will help reduce gum inflammation, as well as the risk of cavities.