While they are pretty much on opposite ends of your body, your gums and your erection are connected in surprising ways. Experts have found that practicing good dental hygiene and taking care of your gums can lead to a healthy erection, while neglecting your mouth and gums could lead to erection problems.
According to a study conducted by Turkish researchers, there is a serious correlation between erection problems and gum disease. The study included 80 male patients with erection problems and 82 male patients without erection problems. To ensure the findings were not affected by outside factors, none of the men studied were smokers, since lighting up is considered a risk factor for both erection problems and gum disease. During the study, researchers found that 53% of the male patients they studied with erection problems had severe gum disease (chronic periodontitis). Comparatively, 23% of the men surveyed with erection problems did not suffer from gum disease.
What’s the connection between gum disease and a wilting erection? It comes down to inflammation. Inflammation, which is the body’s immune response in action, may spread from the gums and harm other parts of the body. Inflammation causes bacteria to seep into the bloodstream in the body, which can lead to blood vessels being damaged. When a blood vessel is damaged, it can struggle to quickly and efficiently get blood to the rest of the body. Your erection requires blood, and lots of it, to function properly, and if your blood vessels can’t reliably provide the necessary blood, you will find yourself unable to achieve an erection.
Thankfully, it’s easy to combat gum disease based erection problems. Brush at a minimum two times a day, floss every day, and simply practice better dental hygiene. With a healthier, happier mouth, you should eventually see your erection return to its former glory.
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.