A recent Australian study has claimed that women who have periodontal diseases may take longer to get pregnant as compared to women who do not have it. The researchers found that gum disease can delay conception by an average two months.

The findings of the study were revealed at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s (ESHRE) annual conference in Stockholm. The experts at the conference advised the women to brush their teeth and floss regularly to prevent the onset of gum diseases.

The results of the study were based on the evaluation of 3416 pregnant women, most of them were young and from Asian background. The study also took into account various factors such as smoking and body weight.

The findings of the study revealed that women with gum diseases took more than seven months to become pregnant, as compared to an average of five months for women who have healthy gums.

Leading fertility expert Dr. Allan Pacey, of the University of Sheffield School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said that gum disease is a sign of poor health which can affect the health of both mother and baby. Gum disease can give rise to heart disease, type II diabetes, and kidney disease.