Your Dental Health Could Be Hurting Your Fertility

In this episode of Get Pregnant Naturally, we explore the fascinating connection between your oral microbiome and reproductive health. From silent gum inflammation to the role of mouth breathing, your oral health can influence egg quality, implantation, gut balance, and even sperm DNA integrity.

If you’re preparing for IVF or trying to conceive naturally, what’s happening in your mouth may be more important than you think.

Why Oral Health Matters for Fertility

The mouth is home to over 700 species of bacteria, and when this delicate ecosystem becomes imbalanced, it can trigger systemic inflammation that reaches far beyond your gums.

Research shows that oral pathogens can contribute to:

• Hormonal dysregulation

• Inflammation in the ovaries and endometrium

• Sperm DNA damage and reduced motility

• Higher risk of miscarriage and pregnancy complications

This is why we look at oral health as part of a functional fertility approach, not just a dental concern.

Oral Inflammation: A Silent Fertility Disruptor

Even without visible gum disease, low-grade mouth inflammation can affect your reproductive system.

Bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum can enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammatory responses that impact both ovarian function and sperm health.

Supporting Research

• Periodontal disease and semen quality in infertile men (2016) - Men with gum disease showed lower sperm count, motility, and morphology due to inflammatory cytokines traveling from the mouth to reproductive tissues.
  Journal of Periodontology

• Systematic review on periodontal disease and male infertility (2019) – Confirmed a significant link between gum disease and sperm DNA fragmentation.
  Human Reproduction Update

How Oral Health Influences Female Fertility

The mouth-body connection plays a key role in hormonal balance, implantation, and pregnancy outcomes.

Inflammation from periodontal disease has been associated with:

• Egg quality decline due to oxidative stress

• Implantation challenges from immune dysregulation

• Higher miscarriage risk

Supporting Research

• Periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes (2010) – Found higher rates of preterm birth and miscarriage in women with gum disease.
  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

• Periodontal disease and pregnancy (2013) – Highlighted how oral bacteria may cross into the placenta, affecting pregnancy outcomes.
  Journal of the American Dental Association

The Oral–Gut Axis: Your Two Microbiomes in Dialogue

The gut and oral microbiomes are closely linked. Oral dysbiosis can lead to gut inflammation, nutrient malabsorption, and immune activation, all key drivers of low AMH, high FSH, and diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

Supporting Research

• The oral microbiome and systemic disease (2018) – Oral dysbiosis contributes to systemic inflammation that can impair gut and immune function.
  Frontiers in Microbiology

Mouth Breathing, Sleep, and Hormone Signaling

Breathing through the mouth, especially at night, can dry out oral tissues, disrupt nitric oxide production, and elevate stress hormones like cortisol.

Chronic mouth breathing is associated with:

• Reduced oxygen flow impacting ovarian and testicular health

• Altered melatonin and hormone rhythms

• Increased systemic inflammation

Functional Fertility Approach to Oral Health

In our functional fertility programs, we look at the oral microbiome as part of a whole-body fertility strategy.

Supporting oral health can reduce inflammation, improve mitochondrial function, and balance the immune system.

Practical (and Gentle) Oral Care Steps

• Schedule regular dental cleanings before an egg retrieval or transfer

• Switch to non-toxic toothpaste (hydroxyapatite-based vs. fluoride) - our favourite is Fygg. Code FABFERTILE to save 15%

• Incorporate oil pulling with coconut or sesame oil to rebalance oral bacteria

• Avoid harsh mouthwash that kills beneficial microbes

• Address mouth breathing through nasal hygiene, tongue posture, and sleep support

Next Steps in Your Fertility Journey

Subscribe to Get Pregnant Naturally for evidence-based guidance on functional fertility, and share this episode with anyone on their fertility journey.

Not sure where to start? Download our most popular guide:  Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant This Year If You Have Low AMH/High FSH it breaks everything down step by step to help you understand your options and take action

For personalized support to improve pregnancy success, book a call here.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Can your mouth affect your fertility?

How oral health connects to low AMH, high FSH, and diminished ovarian reserve.

02:10 The oral microbiome and reproductive health

Why inflammation in the mouth can influence egg quality, implantation, and hormone balance.

05:00 Gum disease, inflammation, and egg quality decline

How chronic oral inflammation impacts ovarian health, mitochondrial function, and embryo development.

08:20 Sperm DNA fragmentation and oral dysbiosis

Why men’s gum health and oral bacteria matter for sperm DNA integrity and IVF outcomes.

11:10 Mouth breathing, stress, and hormone disruption

The surprising link between airway health, cortisol, sleep, and reproductive hormones.

14:05 The gut oral axis and fertility

How oral and gut microbiomes interact and why healing the mouth helps the gut (and vice versa).

17:15 Functional fertility approach to oral inflammation

Reducing inflammation through nutrition, detox support, and targeted supplements to improve fertility.

20:05 Fertility friendly oral care routine

The best ways to support your oral microbiome: dental cleanings, oil pulling, hydroxyapatite toothpaste, and non-toxic swaps.

23:00 Optimizing IVF success through whole body health

How addressing hidden inflammation and oral health can improve egg and sperm quality before IVF.

26:10 Next steps for low AMH and DOR

Why focusing on oral, gut, and immune health together helps improve ovarian response and pregnancy success.

28:00 Final thoughts

Key takeaways for improving fertility through oral and systemic health.

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TRANSCRIPTION

[00:00:00] Diving into the oral microbiome. Yes. Your mouth and how it might be affecting your fertility even if you don't have gingivitis. We're gonna explore how the oral bacteria can influence both egg health and sperm quality and even your chances with IVF plus. We're gonna share simple but powerful strategies like

oil pulling tongue scraping, which toothpaste to avoid. This episode could change how you think about oral care and fertility. Let's go.

I am Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile. For over a decade, my team and I have helped hundreds of couples improve their chances of pregnancy success, whether naturally or through IVF. We specialize in supporting those with low A MH, high FSH, diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian sufficiency, recurrent pregnancy loss through functional lab testing and personalized fertility strategies.

Today we're digging into the oral microbiome and what this means for both egg and sperm quality. This episode is for you as if you've experienced canceled cycles, poor egg [00:01:00] quality or miscarriage, and no one's given you a clear explanation why. You're preparing for your next egg retrieval or transfer, and want to make sure you're doing everything you can to optimize your chances of success.

You have bleeding gums, recurring cavities, or gingivitis, and you're wondering what that has got to do with your egg quality and fertility. Thanks so much for listening. I'm so thankful that you're here. Make sure you hit subscribe or follow, and if you know someone else who is on the fertility journey, please share this podcast with them.

Okay, so let's get into the episode. We're talking all about oral health and pregnancy and egg quality. So gingivitis and gum disease can increase inflammation and bacterial load, and may trigger preterm labor or affect embryo implantation. Inflammation in the mouth sends cytokines through the bloodstream and these can reach the uterus and disrupt

reproductive balance. There's a 2010 meta [00:02:00] analysis showed that treating gum disease during pregnancy reduced preterm birth risk. So I think some of us know some of these pieces, maybe we don't. But we may know this for pregnancy, but it's equally as important to do this beforehand as you prepare for pregnancy.

So oral inflammation is often silent, and many times people don't even know they have it. Maybe you're brushing your teeth and get a little bit of blood on your toothbrush and you spit. You're like, eh, and maybe you haven't gone to the dentist in a while. I'm pretty like with rigid about going to the dentist.

I like going every six months for a cleaning. Sometimes, when I was having a more inflammatory diet definitely had more buildup there, so to go more. But at least every six months. And we're gonna talk about how this really impacts fertility, so the oral microbiome and male fertility.

So that's why it's really important. It is not just about you making all these changes. You're, changing your diet and swapping out the plastics and getting the reverse osmosis water filter and meditating and your [00:03:00] partner is tell me what I gotta do. He goes to the doctor that he's told his sperm is normal and he's I don't.

I don't know what I need to do. The people that we work with are open-minded, so it's really important to, to dig deeper. Even though you're dealing with a low A MH or high FSH diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, recurrent pregnancy loss. It's equally as important that your male partner works on his health, or maybe his sperm.

He's been told his count is a little bit low, his motility is a little bit low. There's always a reason. So looking at the oral microbiome could be something that we haven't even considered. So oral dysbiosis raises systemic inflammation in the body.

Which can impact the sperm count, your motility, your morphology, and even the DNA integrity. So pathogens P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum have been found in the semen linking oral health directly to male reproductive health.

And sperm quality improves after, after treating gum disease. Suggesting this is a low [00:04:00] risk, high impact intervention. Go get your teeth cleaned. If you've got gingivitis or cavities, or we have avoided going to the dentist 'cause let's face it. The dentist isn't, there's a reason there's high suicide among dentists.

It's not someone that people are like, wow, I wanna go there and have someone pick up my teeth and maybe have a cavity and get a drill. This could be a reason why you're not getting pregnant. And so we need to bite the bullet. And there's a lot of interventions now where the dentist is not as scary as it used to be and they can do a lot of things to help.

The oral bacterial is a fertility disruptor. And looking at this for both men and women is key. The regular cleanings can reduce oral bacteria, lower inflammation that can impact your hormones and implantation.

And you wanna go at least every six months, or if you're trying to get pregnant every three to four months,. You wanna use a soft bristle brush. You can consider ozone therapy or air polishing. You wanna make sure you're not using fluoride in [00:05:00] your toothpaste. You wanna make sure you get an organic non-toxic toothpaste.

We do the gut testing, looking at your gut microbiome, and then we look at the male partner looking at his semen. Looking at his blood. And then because we see people swapping fluids they can have similar gut microbiome.

And then here we are, if we've got dysbiosis in our mouth, our oral microbiome, we're swallow, this is gross, but we're swallowing all that all day long. And then that's going right into our digestive tract. The mouth is the start of the gut and it seeds the GI tract.

And so oral pathogens contribute to gut dysbiosis, inflammation and that intestinal permeability. And so poor oral health can be correlated with IBS that catch all symptom. You got diarrhea, you've got constipation. Maybe it's your oral health that's poor. Irritable bowel disease, Crohn's colitis metabolic issues, all which impact fertility.

And yeah, so you want to look at some strategies to actually be able to optimize this. So you can consider oil [00:06:00] pulling where you take the coconut oil, you swish it around or sesame oil. You can swish it around your mouth for five to 15 minutes, ideally, first thing in the morning. You can do it while you're in the shower.

And then it helps to remove these pathogens such as the Streptococcus mutans, the P. gingivalis, which are linked to systemic inflammation. And so you wanna make sure you swish that around. It can also help whiten your teeth. You do not wanna spit that down the sink because then you're gonna clog your drain.

So spit in the in the garbage. It's an ancient ayurvedic treatment to lower your bacterial load, improve the oral gut microbiome balance, and it can be crucial to help with your hormone regulation and fertility. And then that coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is known for its antimicrobial and inflammatory properties, making it really gentle and effective for an oral detox.

So it can improve your gum health, your breath, even your skin clarity all of which points to in inflammatory burden. This is over , so we're not do this right away and expect immediate results. But it is a [00:07:00] daily thing to add to your while you're in the shower, while you're washing your face, just swish it around.

I have done it for a period of time. I'm not doing it now, but as I'm talking about this, it's time bring it back in. But I did do it for a period of time, did notice my teeth were whiter, and then just the mouth felt cleaner. This is the next one. Tongue scraping. So the tongue is a major reservoir for oral bacteria, especially overnight when the salivary flow decreases and then the bacteria accumulate.

So you looking at scraping your tongue with a stainless steel or a copper scraper helps remove this biofilm, which is then gonna reduce the bacterial load, preventing bacteria in your mouth, which can in affect your teeth, and your gums. And so it supports obviously your breath improve taste perception and then maybe it may reduce the burden on the immune system.

From a fertility specter perspective, anything you can do to lower the bacterial load. So lower systemic inflammation that improves your hormones and you wanna avoid that alcohol [00:08:00] based mouthwash. They have ethanol, also alcohol that's gonna aggressively kill the bacteria, both the bad bacteria and the good bacteria.

So we do when we do our protocols, our gut protocols if we're eliminating parasites or bacterial infections or fungal infections, sometimes we do need to use an anti parasite or an antifungal, but we need to bear in mind that when we bring that in, and when you work with your doctor to do that you bring that in, you're also wiping out all the good guys.

So you need to work on all the repair after. So in this case, the mouthwash, we're just stripping the mouth and then that can leave the oral microbiome imbalanced and vulnerable. Like those antibiotics that we just talked about when you're throwing those in the gut.

And then alcohol can also dry out the mouth, reducing the saliva production. And that saliva plays a critical role in maintaining a balanced pH in the mouth, which is gonna control the pathogens. And so long-term use of the alcohol based rinses may increase the risk of oral cancers. Disrupt nitric oxide, which is the key for blood flow including your reproductive organs.

So you wanna [00:09:00] have an alcohol free rinse. So consider xylitol or salt or herbal antimicrobials, like clove or things like that. And then you've probably seen this all over TikTok and Instagram mouth tape. So again, I've done this for a period of time. There was one a period of time where my daughter in her teenage years. My husband and I, we go to bed.

We both put the mouth tape on, so we like kissed with the mouth tape. And then he also had the nose strip for the breathing and the mouth tape. And then someone was knocking at our door late at night, where's your daughter? Blah, blah, blah. So he goes to the door, opens it up and just look, he looks like he's some sort of monster with the mouth tape and the strip.

And he's no, she's not here. But mumbling it with the mouth tape. So breathing through the mouth, especially at night, leads to dry mouth. It disrupts your oral pH and bacteria will overgrow it reduces the nitric oxide production which plays a role in the vascular health, oxygen delivery, and then your reproductive health.

And if [00:10:00] you're a mouth breather, chronic mouth breathing can link to oral dysbiosis, gum disease, and cavities. Poor sleep which can then impact your reproductive hormones like lh, FSH and your melatonin. And so try out some mouth taping if you're like, Ooh, I've always breathed through my mouth.

It is training. Obviously if you have blocked sinuses, that's a whole other situation to be able to clear that out and clear out the nose passages using saline rinses. But it can help encourage the nasal breathing supports a moist and oxygen-rich oral environment. Enhancing your sleep quality.

So if you are snoring, consider this mouth tape and then we gotta start going down sleep studies and things like that. But first strategy would be to look at some mouth tape. And so if you've got a dry mouth. So saliva is more than just moisture. It contains enzymes, immune markers and helps maintain that oral homeostasis.

And so it could be caused by stress, a dry mouth, medication, dehydration. A lot of us just aren't drinking enough mouth breathing. And then that's when the pathogenic bacteria comes in. And so [00:11:00] then it's give you a higher risk for cavities, gum disease that pH imbalance. Systemic inflammation and then that dysregulation in the oral

and the gut microbiome. So it's all connected. It's not just one little silo that, you go to the dermatologist for the skin issue, the gastroenterologist for your gut issue, the rheumatologist for your joint pain, all these different specialists. But we need to look at the body as a whole.

So you wanna have more hydration, more water. Usually it's 50 to 50 to 75% of your body weight in ounces in water per day. So if you're 130 pounds, it's 60 ounces of water or 65 ounces of water. You can consider some humidifiers to support that. And then also electrolyte balance too, to encourage hydration.

So we talked a little bit about the toothpaste. You want to consider a Hydroxyapatite is a toothpaste to consider. It's a naturally occurring mineral in the teeth and bones, and it plays a key role in remineralizing your enamel, protecting against cavities.

You don't want the fluoride. Fluoride's been linked to potential disruptions in the gut [00:12:00] microbiome and the Hydroxyapatite is gentler. It does not disrupt the oral microbiome, rebuilds the enamel and it can help reduce inflammation.

I think many of us know this don't have toxic toothpaste, like just. Check it out on Think Dirty or the ewg. org and look at your toothpaste. And then when, once it's finished, switch it out for a non-toxic. So you don't want the sodium laurel or the SLS, which is common in many toothpaste, it can cause irritation to the gums and the mucus membranes you don't want.

Triclosan. So it's an antibacterial agent. It can good at killing bacteria, but then it's going to impact the balance of the oral microbiome. So you don't want that one. And you don't want those alcohol based mouth washes are gonna dry out the mouth.

So there's some studies actually that came out. I'm gonna link some of these studies at the end of this episode about periodontal disease and semen quality. Also with periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. So a [00:13:00] number of different studies that have come out all about the oral microbiome.

Brush your teeth. Make sure you don't use toxic toothpaste or alcohol mouthwash. Consider the connection between the oral microbiome and the gut microbiome, and if you've got gingivitis, if you've got bleeding guns, if you have a dry mouth, if you are snoring, if you have disrupted sleep.

This is a key to dig deeper. Consider that mouth tape and try some oil pulling. And this could be a factor why the embryo is not making it and looking at this for both you and your partner. So if you wanted to improve your chances of pregnancy success and get our team to have their eyes on your specific case, you can send a message to hello@fabfertile.ca, subject line FERTILE, and we can give options to help.

Thanks for listening. Take care.

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How to Get Started With Functional Fertility Support

Book your call here to get your personalized plan and options to help improve pregnancy success either naturally or with IVF treatment. 

Check out our Fab Fertile functional fertility program here and learn how to improve AMH levels naturally.  We work with couples that have low AMH, high FSH, diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, and recurrent pregnancy loss.

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FAQ: Common Questions About Dental Care and Fertility

1. Can gum disease really affect fertility?

Yes. Chronic gum inflammation releases cytokines and bacteria into the bloodstream, which can alter hormone balance, egg quality, and sperm DNA integrity.

2. Should I get a dental cleaning before IVF?

Yes. A cleaning 1–2 months before retrieval or transfer can lower inflammatory load and improve outcomes.

3. What toothpaste is best for fertility?

Look for hydroxyapatite-based or fluoride-free formulas that support remineralization without disrupting the oral microbiome.

4. Can oral bacteria actually reach the reproductive organs?

Research shows oral pathogens like Fusobacterium nucleatum can enter the bloodstream and have been detected in seminal fluid, affecting sperm quality.
Journal of Clinical Periodontology

5. How can I tell if oral inflammation is an issue for me?

Bleeding gums, bad breath, frequent cavities, or receding gums may all be signs. Even without symptoms, lab testing and dental evaluation can reveal early inflammation.

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Key Takeaways

• Oral inflammation can silently disrupt both female and male fertility.

• Gum disease is linked to poor egg quality, sperm damage, and pregnancy loss.

• Oral and gut microbiomes communicate, supporting one the other.

• Gentle, non-toxic oral care practices can improve fertility outcomes.

• Addressing oral health is an overlooked yet powerful step in functional fertility care.

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Related Articles to Explore

• How Inflammation Affects Egg Quality and Implantation

• Why A Healthy Microbiome Matters for Egg and Sperm Health

• Top Functional Fertility Labs to Improve IVF Success

• The Link Between Sleep and Fertility and Why Getting Enough Rest Matters 

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Resources

📩 Get your free 10-day elimination diet plan! Email hello@fabfertile.ca with the subject line 10 DAY to receive your guide and take the first step toward reconnecting with your fertility.

Fygg Toothpaste: code FABFERTILE to save 15% - https://fygg.com

Boka Toothpaste: https://www.boka.com/

Healthy Sleep, Sleep Apnea And Why It Matters For Fertility:  https://fabfertile.com/blogs/podcasts/healthy-sleep-sleep-apnea-and-why-it-matters-for-fertility?_pos=1&_sid=12eb99c30&_ss=r

The Link Between Sleep and Fertility: Why Getting Enough Rest Matters:  https://fabfertile.com/blogs/podcasts/how-poor-sleep-could-be-sabotaging-your-egg-quality?_pos=6&_sid=19d28e939&_ss=r

Why Your Dental Routine Matters For Fertility and Pregnancy Success Outcomes:  https://fabfertile.com/blogs/podcasts/why-your-dental-routine-matters-for-fertility-and-pregnancy-success-outcomes?_pos=2&_sid=dfe113e30&_ss=r

Our favorite fertility tracker (use code FABFERTILE15 to save 15) - https://www.inito.com/en-us/?srsltid=AfmBOoo85sXu_esmFN5Kz6iysaTkBKgYl35Jubv-BaLkkxXVggdk6nes