You can buy a set of Austin Powers misshapen teeth for $9, but considering what they tell you about that Mike Myers character, you might not want to go there. Men in their 30s with erection problems (Austin couldn't sustain it with the seductive Ivana Humpalot) are three times more likely to have chronic gum inflammation, periodontitis, than fellas that age without dysfunction. What causes their get-up-and-go to go away? Only 3 percent to 5 percent of cases are from a hormone deficiency. Most ED stems from cardiovascular problems associated with inflammation.

Gum inflammation typically causes bleeding when brushing and, like Austin, your teeth can seem elongated as gums recede. It also contributes to bodywide inflammation that damages the lining of blood vessels, leading to problems with blood flow. If the flow don't go, guys, you're a no-show. (FYI: Female sexual function is also contingent on blood flow.)

So, if you brush up on dental hygiene, you can help protect your enjoyment of the greatest health-bestowing, tension-releasing, love-bonding activity. Here's how:

-Brush two to three times a day for at least two minutes each time. Floss once a day.

-See a dental professional at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup.

-Eliminate added sugars and sugar syrups from your diet, and amp up intake of veggies and fruit (aim for about half of your total daily calories) and take supplements of 900 mg of omega-3 DHA and 420 mg of purified omega-7 daily. They'll reduce inflammation and may protect your heart — and your enjoyment of life.


© 2013 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.