We all learned the song about how all of our bones are connected when we were little. “The hip bones connected to the back bone/the back bone’s connected to the neck bone,” and so on and so forth. Well, while there may not be a catchy song about it, everything else in your body is connected, too. While it might not seem it, seemingly unconnected parts of your body can have big implications on each other. Case in point: The health of your gums can affect your erection.
Yes, your gums. Yes, the ones in your mouth. Sure, they’re pretty much on opposite ends of the body, but one can have a profound effect on the other. Several studies have found a connection between erectile problems and the inflammation of the gums, also known as periodontits. Â Researchers have found that men with periodontits are more likely to suffer from erectile problems then men without the gum disease. In fact, a recent study out of Turkey found that men who were treated for gum disease would typically see the quality of their erections improve afterwards.
What’s the connection? That’s a good question. Researchers admit that there is a connection between the two, but no one seems quite sure what that connection is. Tests have established that one can affect the other, but no one is quite sure why. But researchers have conjectured that the link is due to general poor health that would accompany periodontits. If you have periodontits, they reasoned, you may be suffering other health ailments as well, hence the erectile problems.
While researchers will continue to work to find the true connection between gum disease and erectile problems, don’t wait for them to figure it out. Start taking better care of your gums for the sake of your erection.
Evan Hopkins is a 24 year old writer operating out of Atlanta, GA. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys reading books, drinking coffee, and folk music.