Studies show that there is a close relationship between chronic periodontitis (CP) and erectile dysfunction (ED). It was studied that chronic periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. CP is a serious gum infection that destroys the soft tissue and the bone that supports the teeth. It’s mainly attributed to poor oral hygiene and lead to loosening and loss of teeth. Its symptoms include;
• Tender gums
• Bad breath
• Bleeding gums
• Bright red and swollen gums
Erectile dysfunction is a common disorder in men whereby they are unable to keep a firm erection enough for sexual intercourse. Several risk factors are associated with ED. They include
• Diseases like heart diabetes
• Obesity
• Psychological conditions like stress
• Drug and alcohol abuse
The relationship between CP and ED
Various medical specialists have carried out comprehensive studies in the past years in order to identify the link between CP and ED. One of the studies involved two groups of men with ages ranging from 30 years to 40 years. One group consisted of eighty men with ED while the other group comprised of men with no erectile problems. However, precaution was taken to exclude men with the following systemic diseases;
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
In addition, smokers who had previous periodontal treatments were also excluded from the study. Both groups consisted of men with the same education level, body mass index, and household income. Young men were chosen to exclude the risk of aging in the ED. The results showed that CP is more prevalent in men with erectile dysfunction than in men without the problem. Moreover, other studies show that treatment of CP also treated ED to some extent.
The relationship between ED and CP is linked to vascular health. Penile erection occurs when brain stimulates relaxation of the penile muscles and consequent flow of blood into the penis. Then, veins are closed to maintain an erection. Chronic periodontitis has been proved to reduce the elasticity of endothelium cells that line the blood vessels. This is a common symptom of various vascular diseases which affects the flow of blood to body organs including the penis. Cutting blood flow to the penis leads to ED. From the results, researchers suggest that medical specialists should take CP into consideration when treating men with ED. In addition, it has been shown that men with erection disorders are three times more likely to have gum diseases.
