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Erectile Dysfunction and the Link to Gum Disease: Understanding the Surprising Connection

Why should penis health be connected with oral health? It may seem strange, but there can be a connection. In recent years, several doctors and scientists have written about a link between periodontitis, a kind of gum disease, and erectile dysfunction. A recently published article provides yet more ammunition for existence of this link.

The study

The study on the gum disease-erectile dysfunction connection was conducted by researchers at the University of Granada in Spain. It was published in The Journal of Clinical Periodontology and is entitled “Chronic periodontitis is associated with erectile dysfunction. A case-control study in European population.”

In the trial, the scientists looked at 158 men in Europe. Eighty of the men were classified as having erectile dysfunction, using a medially accepted definition from the International Index of Erectile Function. The other 78 men were considered “controls,” that is “typical” males who basically matched the others in terms of age, background, etc., but who did not have erectile dysfunction. Various tests were applied, including a periodontal examination.

When all of the data was gathered and compared, it was found that 74% of the men who had erectile dysfunction also had gum disease. This means that men with gum disease have a 2.17 times higher risk of erectile dysfunction than men without gum disease. By comparing results from other tests that were performed on the study participants, the scientists conclude that a particular protein made in the liver is the likely link between the two conditions.

Further evidence

This study is just the latest to find evidence of a link between gum disease and erectile dysfunction. Studies going back at least to 2012 have drawn the same conclusion (although they did not necessarily isolate the liver-produced protein as a causative factor.) In general it is believed that the microorganisms developed from periodontitis can travel from the mouth into the bloodstream. Once there, they can have a negative effect on the cells which line the blood vessels, causing them to narrow.

When this occur in or near the penis, it can have a damaging effect on erections. During the erectile process, penile blood vessels need to expand so that more blood can rush into the penis, allowing it to expand. When there is insufficient blood, the erection is impacted, sometimes seriously.

Gum disease

How does a man know if he has gum disease? Typical signs of periodontitis include swollen or puffy gums that may be bright red or purplish and feel tender; gums that bleed without provocation or that recede from the teeth; bad breath; pain while chewing; and changes in spacing of the teeth or development of pus. A visit to the dentist can quickly determine if a man has gum disease.

Brushing regularly (at least twice a day), flossing once a day, and visiting the dentist regularly (twice a year or more as required) are the best ways to prevent periodontitis from developing.

For those who already have gum disease, the dentist will determine the course of treatment based on severity. Appropriate cleaning and use of antibiotics are often necessary; in more serious cases, oral surgery may be required.

Gum disease is only one cause of erectile dysfunction, which can be have many causes. Keeping the penis in supreme health helps to reduce many problems, so men should definitely apply a first class penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) on a regular basis. The best cremes have a wide range of vitamins, including A, B5, C, D and E. They should ideally also include an amino acid called L-carnitine. This ingredient provides neuroprotective relief from peripheral nerved damage which can lead to a diminishment of sensation in the penis – something men want to avoid.

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