Impotence is linked to poor oral health: "The mouth affects the snout"

It is primarily in the periodontal disease periodontitis that researchers see potential and possible connections to many different diseases.

- What happens in the mouth affects the bud, the body and also the snout, says periodontist Konstantin Sarkissov at the specialist dental care in Norrbotten.

Relationship with pregnancy complications

Researchers have also seen periodontitis as a risk factor for rheumatic diseases, dementia, osteoporosis, Parkinson's and pregnancy complications.

- The research has simply exploded and there are new findings every year.

Various inflammatory markers are thrown into the bloodstream and circulate in the body and then these substances can, for example, get to the amniotic fluid where there is an additional reaction, says Sarkissov and continues.

- It can actually start a birth prematurely.

Collaborates more often with healthcare

How common is it for healthcare to miss the link between these diseases and tooth loss?

- Previously, we worked with the "we and them principle" and then it was missed a lot.

But thanks to research where the mouth is getting closer to the body, it is actually more and more often that the collaboration takes place between us in dentistry and our colleagues in healthcare, he says.

"The whole body will rejoice"

Does this mean that you could, for example, get rid of impotence problems if you get rid of your tooth loss disease?

- Unfortunately, it is not that simple.

You may not get the function back, but on the other hand, it will have a beneficial and positive effect when you reduce the inflammation in the mouth.

The whole body will rejoice and it will be like a party of joy, says Konstantin Sarkissov.

Economic and health medicine suites

We have a dental crisis now with long queues and a great shortage of dentists.

What consequences can it have in the long run given the great risks that researchers see with poor oral health?

- It is a crisis and it is difficult to turn a blind eye to a lack of resources and more difficult accessibility for patients.

Of course, there will be some consequences both of a financial nature and from a health medical perspective, but I hope they invest in dental care, the existing staff and recruitment, says Konstantin Sarkissov and states:

- But the work you do at home in the bathroom is at least as important as what we do in the dentist's chair.

In the video, the periodontist explains how it can happen that poor dental health can affect the function of the snout.