Can cleaning my teeth help me get pregnant?

The BabyCentre editorial team

Our panel of health writers.

While cleaning your teeth may not actually help you get pregnant, neglecting your dental health may affect your chances of conceiving.

There is some evidence that if you have gum disease it may take you slightly longer to get pregnant than if you have healthy gums.

This is based on the results of a single study which found that women with healthy gums conceived sooner. The women with healthy gums became pregnant within about five months, compared to just over seven months for women with gum disease. However, more research may reveal that this was a chance link.

The dental problem that may cause you a delay in conceiving is called periodontal disease. This is much more serious than the occasional sore gums or plaque outbreaks that you may have had now and then. Periodontal disease can be a reflection of poor general health, which can also affect how easy it is to become pregnant.

Periodontal disease develops over time if your sore gums persist and you don't properly clean away the plaque on your mouth. Plaque is the sticky film that forms on unbrushed teeth.

Plaque contains many types of bacteria, which, if left, may cause your gums to become inflamed. Eventually, your gums may pull away from your teeth, leaving pockets that are open to infection. Once infection and inflammation has set in, it's thought that chemicals are released into your bloodstream that may affect other parts of your body.

There have been links between gum disease and heart disease, kidney problems and premature birth. So just as gum disease can cause problems for your general health, it might affect the time it takes you to get pregnant.

The best way to prevent gum disease is to brush your teeth twice a day. It'll help if you clean away the food debris that can get stuck between your teeth, too.

Interdental brushes are the best way to clean the tight gaps between your teeth. They are more effective than flossing.

It's possible that gum disease may have as big an effect on the time it takes to conceive as obesity. So it's worth paying a visit to your dentist if you think you have a problem with your teeth or gums. Other things that could make it harder for you to conceive include being over 35 and smoking.

Once you've conceived, it's just as important to carry on looking after your teeth and gums. NHS dental care is free while you're pregnant.

Last reviewed: April 2013


This article was written using the following source:

Hart R. 2011. Gum disease can increase the time it takes to become pregnant. European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Annual Meeting, News Briefing, 3-6 July. [Accessed July 2011]


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