Oral Health and Infertility: A link?

According to a study by Professor Roger Hart of the University of Western Australia, which was recently presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, periodontal disease can delay chances of conceiving by at least two months. The researchers followed a group of over 3,500 women and concluded that the presence of periodontal disease seems to be a modifiable risk factor, which can increase the time to conceive. Women contemplating pregnancy should be encouraged to have any gum disease treated prior to attempting to conceive. Flossing and brushing your teeth regularly should be a part of taking care of yourself pre-conceptionally.