ED and Gum Disease

Erectile Dysfunction and Gum Disease?

Do you have gum disease?

 Yes, you read the title right!  Erectile dysfunction and gum disease are linked!  Erectile dysfunction (ED) can involve the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, and most importantly, periodontal disease. Dr. Ken Versman, Dr. Doug Heller, and Dr. Eric Beckman always warn their patients about the consequences of gum disease and this warning may send all men running to the bathroom to grab toothbrushes and floss.

According to a new study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, men with erectile dysfunction  are three times more likely to have gum disease than men who do not have ED.  This statistic includes men worldwide, which means the Denver metro area is not exluded.

Turkish researchers studied 80 men with ED as well as 82 men without ED.  To exclude any other risk factors for gum disease all participants were nonsmokers and in the age range of 30 – 40 years old.  Despite the similarities, 53% of males with ED had chronic periodontitis while only 23% of those without the condition had periodontitis.

The researchers concluded, “We think that it will be of benefit to consider periodontal disease as a causative clinical condition of ED in such patients.”

These two conditions seem extremely dissimilar to most; however, Drs.Versman, Heller, and Beckman know there is one main similarity between gum disease and erectile dysfunction. Inflammation is the magic word!  Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue, ligaments, and bone around the teeth. As gum disease progresses bacteria are released in the mouth which is then carried through the blood vessels to the surrounding body.  These bacteria can damage blood vessels and impair blood flow to the penis which causes ED. 

Poor dental hygiene can be a cause for erectile dysfunction.  The numbers speak for this connection as over half over Americans have gum disease and 150 million men worldwide endure from ED.  There is good news as Periodontal Associates in Aurora has two lovely hygienists who specialize in treating patients with gum disease offering more thorough cleanings.  Periodontal Associates’ hygienists are an instrumental part in early detection of oral problems and the prevention of erectile dysfunction.

Dr. Faith Oguz from Inonu University in Malatya, Turkey stated, “Many studies have reported that [chronic periodontitis] may induce systemic vascular diseases, which have been linked with erection problems.”

Research studies have shown that there is a strong association between periodontal disease and other chronic conditions besides ED such as diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy complications and respiratory disease.

Faithful brushing and flossing can keep inflammation causing bacteria minimized, and regular visits to Periodontal Associates in Aurora allows Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman to detect and treat periodontitis. Dr. KenVersman, Dr. Doug Heller, and Dr. Eric Beckman are specialists and are best suited to treat those suffering from periodontal disease.  Unfortunately, according to recent research in the AAP’s journal Periodontology, most men are not taking advantage of dental services and women are twice as likely as men to get regular dental check-ups. We ask our Aurora patients to share this news with your friends and family to help encourage men to take dental health more seriously.

Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman do not want to scare or worry our male patients; however, Periodontal Associates wants to be sure to emphasize the importance of good oral hygiene to prevent and treat gum disease as well as other systemic diseases. Our Aurora, CO office offers professional services with primary focus on gum disease. For more information, please visit our website at www.periodontalhealth.com. Also, feel free to give us a call at (303) 755-4500 or click here to make an appointment. Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman serve all the surrounding Denver, Colorado areas with patients even traveling from out of state to see our specialists. We look forward to visiting with you and coordinating an individual treatment plan to fit your needs and health concerns.