Oral health emerges as a key factor in women's pain disorders

Oral health emerges as a key factor in women's pain disorders

New research from the University of Sydney has found that poor oral health is significantly linked to higher cases of migraines, abdominal pain and body pain in women.

Published inLimitations in pain researchThe world's first study identified specific oral microbes that correlated with specific pain conditions, suggesting a possible relationship between the oral microbiome and the nervous system.

The results highlight the importance of good oral health to potentially mitigate pain and improve overall well-being, prompting further research into the role of the oral microbiota in chronic unexplained pain conditions. This includes fibromyalgia, a condition experienced by 67 percent of study participants.

This is the first study to examine oral health, oral microbiota and pain in women with fibromyalgia, with our study showing a clear and significant association between poor oral health and pain. “

Joanna Harnett, Associate Professor Investigator, Faculty of Medicine and Health

“Our findings are particularly important for fibromyalgia, which is commonly diagnosed despite being a common rheumatologic disease,” said Sharon Erdrich.

“Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and headaches, including headaches as well as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive problems.”

How the research worked

The research examined associations between self-reported oral health, the oral microbiome and various pain presentations in a group of New Zealand women with and without fibromyalgia.

Oral health was assessed using the WHO Oral Health Questionnaire and assessed for body pain, headache, migraine and abdominal pain using validated instruments including the Short Form 36 (which measures quality of life), the International Headache Headache Survey and the International Headache Severity Score and the International Headache Severity Index and the International Headache Severity Index. Strong associations were seen between oral health scores and pain, and each of these was linked to specific microbes in the mouth, assessed using advanced genomic technology.

Participants with the poorest oral health were more likely to experience higher pain scores: 60 percent were more likely to have moderate to severe body pain, and 49 percent were more likely to have migraine headaches. Poor oral health was a statistically significant predictor of frequent and chronic migraines.

Four oral microbial species from the Dialister, Fusobacterium, Parvimonas and Solobacterium genera were significantly associated with pain according to age, BMI and added dietary sugars.

A weak but significant inverse correlation was also found with diet quality and oral health, although researchers note that this still needs to be studied in detail.

The Australian Dental Association recommends regular oral hygiene appointments and dental health exams, as well as brushing and flossing twice daily.

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