Study links poor oral health with body pain, migraines in women
Suffering from migraine headaches and body pain? Blame your poor oral health, according to a study on Wednesday
- NEW DELHI — Suffering
from migraine headaches and body pain? Blame your poor oral health, according
to a study on Wednesday.
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- The study, which focussed on women, identified specific oral
microbes correlated with certain pain conditions. It also suggested a potential
relationship between the oral microbiome and the nervous system.
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- The research examined associations between self-reported
oral health, the oral microbiome, and various pain presentations in a group of
67 women from New Zealand with and without fibromyalgia -- a chronic condition
characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and sleep
disturbances.
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- The results, published in the journal Frontiers in Pain
Research, showed that lower oral health was a statistically significant
predictor of frequent and chronic migraine.
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- “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 investigator Associate Professor Joanna Harnett from the
Faculty of Medicine and Health.
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- Participants with the poorest oral health were more likely
to suffer from higher pain scores. About 60 per cent of women were more likely
to experience moderate to severe body pain, and 49 per cent were more likely to
experience migraine headaches.
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- Four oral microbial species from the Dialister,
Fusobacterium, Parvimonas, and Solobacterium genera were significantly
associated with pain after age, BMI and added dietary sugars were considered.
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- “Our findings are particularly important to fibromyalgia
which, despite being a common rheumatological condition, is often
underrecognised,” said Sharon Erdrich, doctoral candidate in the Faculty of
Medicine and Health.
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- The team also observed a weak but significant inverse
correlation between diet quality and oral health. However, the researchers note
this has yet to be investigated in detail.
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- The researchers recommend regular oral hygiene appointments
and dental health checks, in addition to twice daily teeth brushing and
flossing.
