It might be time to brush up on your oral health.
You probably know that inadequate toothbrushing can increase your risk of tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath.
A new study out of Australia also found a surprising link between poor oral hygiene and body aches, migraines and stomach pain — especially in women.
This week in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research, scientists reported that women with worse oral health are significantly more likely to suffer from pain, including frequent headaches and conditions like fibromyalgia.
The culprits? Tiny microbes in the mouth that might be messing with the nervous system.
“This is the first study to investigate oral health, oral microbiota and pain commonly experienced in women with fibromyalgia, with our study showing a clear and significant association between poor oral health and pain,” said lead author Dr. Joanna Harnett, an associate professor at the University of Sydney School of Pharmacy.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain — including headaches — as well as fatigue, sleep disturbances and cognitive problems, the researchers said.
“Our findings are particularly important to fibromyalgia which, despite being a common rheumatological condition, is often under-recognized,” co-author Sharon Erdrich added.
Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 5% of the global population — women represent between 80% and 96% of cases.
A 2023 study noted that “the vast bulk of affected people end up suffering from diverse kinds of disability, isolation, stigmatization, lack of validity of their diagnosis and concern about their long-term prognostication.”
For this new study, researchers analyzed the data of 186 women — 67% of whom had fibromyalgia — and found that those with the worst dental health were 60% more likely to suffer moderate to severe body pain and nearly 50% more likely to report migraine headaches.
The worse their mouths looked, the more their heads hurt.
That’s one more reason to take proper care of those pearly whites.
Experts recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing regularly and seeing your dentist at least once a year to maintain good oral hygiene.
