Regular dental hygiene reduces the risk of erectile dysfunction, Turkish scientists have found. According to new research, men who suffer from gum inflammation are 3 times more likely to have erectile dysfunction. The study compared 80 men between the ages of 30 and 40 with erectile dysfunction with a control group of 82 men unaffected by the problem. The results showed that 53% of men with erectile dysfunction had gingivitis, compared to 23% of control participants. After the researchers took into account other factors, such as age, body mass index, income and level of education, it was found that men with severe periodontal disease were 3.29 times more likely to suffer from erectile problems than men with healthy wreaths. Erectile dysfunction is a significant public health problem that affects the quality of life of about 150 million men and their partners worldwide, emphasizes study leader Dr. Vıra Oguz of Inyonu University in Turkey. Physical factors cause almost 2/3 of cases, mainly due to blood vessel problems, as well as psychological problems such as emotional stress and depression. Chronic periodontitis is mainly caused by bacteria, which are most often seen in gingivitis. NEWS_MORE_BOX A number of studies have shown that chronic periodontitis can trigger the development of vascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, which in turn are associated with erectile problems. Erectile dysfunction and chronic periodontitis are known to be caused by similar risk factors, such as age, smoking, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Therefore, men with a systemic disease who are smokers are excluded from the study, explains Dr. Vyara Oguz. The study supports the theory that chronic periodontitis is more common in men with erectile dysfunction than in those without the disease, and therefore should be considered as a factor by clinicians treating erectile dysfunction, the researchers noted. The results were published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.