A new study has found that women with poor oral hygiene are more likely to experience migraines, abdominal pain, and general body discomfort.
The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Sydney and published in Frontiers in Pain Research, shows a strong link between oral health and chronic pain, particularly among women diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
According to Associate Professor Joanna Harnett, the study is the first to examine the connection between oral microbiota, oral health, and pain in women living with fibromyalgia.
“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,” Harnett said.
PhD candidate and co-author Sharon Erdrich noted that fibromyalgia is often underdiagnosed, despite being a common condition.
“Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, and headaches including headaches, as well as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive problems,” she explained.
The study involved a group of women in New Zealand, with and without fibromyalgia. Participants completed the World Health Organisation’s oral health questionnaire and were assessed for pain using various validated tools. Their oral bacteria were also examined using genomic testing.
The findings revealed that women with the poorest oral health were 60 percent more likely to suffer moderate to severe body pain and 49 percent more likely to experience migraines. Poor oral health also emerged as a strong predictor of frequent and chronic headaches.
Four specific bacterial species, Dialister, Fusobacterium, Parvimonas, and Solobacterium were found to be significantly linked with pain symptoms, even after adjusting for age, body mass index, and dietary sugar intake.
The study also reported a weak but notable connection between poor diet and poor oral health, although more research is needed to explore this aspect.
In response to the findings, the Australian Dental Association has advised maintaining good oral hygiene through regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups to reduce the risk of chronic health problems.
The research was ethically approved by the New Zealand Health and Disability Committee and registered with the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). All participants gave written consent before taking part in the study.
