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What do gums and erections have in common?
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
Men who brush their teeth regularly, thereby reducing the risk of gum disease, are less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. According to research by Turkish scientists, men who have gum inflammation are three times more likely to have problems with erection.
The results of the specialists’ research were published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
A team of scientists from Inonu University, led by the lead author of the study, Dr. Fait Oguz, conducted a study involving 162 men aged 30 to 40. 82 participants in the study formed the control group and were completely healthy, while the remaining 80 had erectile problems.
As it turned out after the analysis, 53% of men suffering from erectile dysfunction had problems with their gums – periodontitis. For comparison, in the control group of men with gum disease there are only 23%.
The experts assessed the health of the gums in terms of bleeding during examination, the level of clinical attachment of the gums and the index of dental plaque. And the sexual capabilities of the volunteers in accordance with the International Index of Erectile Function.
Scientists took into account all the factors that could, to varying degrees, cause the disease: age, weight, level of education and wealth. It turned out that men with severe periodontitis had a 3.29 times higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction.
Dr. Oguz says that erectile dysfunction, or erectile dysfunction, is a very common problem that prevents approximately 150 million men worldwide from living a normal life. Two-thirds of the cases are the result of vascular problems, meaning that a physical factor plays a role here. And one-third is due to another cause of erectile dysfunction – psychological.
Previous studies have established a link between chronic periodontitis and vascular diseases. Now experts have found another link – periodontitis and male impotence.
Experts advise doctors to take these data into account when treating patients with erectile dysfunction.