Women who want the best chance of having a baby should make sure they floss their teeth regularly, say doctors

Poor oral health is as bad for fertility as obesity - delaying conception by about two months. Experts at a fertility meeting in Sweden heard how women with gum disease took over seven months to conceive, compared to the usual five months. They believe that the underlying cause is inflammation. Unchecked, this can set off a chain of reactions capable of damaging the body's normal workings. Peridontal disease has already been linked with heart disease, type 2 diabetes and miscarriage, plus poor sperm quality in men. In this latest study from Australia, which involved over 3,500 women, those with gum disease had raised blood levels of markers for inflammation. Women trying for a baby should now add a trip to their dentist to the check list along with stopping smoking and drinking, maintaining a healthy weight and taking folic acid supplements.