New Delhi, April 9 || Suffering from migraine headaches and body pain? Blame your poor oral health, according to a study on Wednesday.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.