Understanding How Hormones Affect Your Oral Health

When it comes to the factors that impact your dental health, most people often overlook the role hormones play. Women, in particular, experience hormonal changes that can put your health in haywire - from the mood down to the state of your gums.

Most are unaware of how hormones and oral health are linked, so understanding its connection and how your habits impact women’s sensitivity to dental problems.

How Do Hormones Affect Women’s Oral Health?

Women are likely to experience oral health complications as hormonal changes often impact the blood supply of the body, which includes the blood delivered to the gum tissue. The more blood flowing to the gums, the easier it is to irritate, especially when there is the presence of plaque and bacteria.

If left untreated, gum inflammation can lead to detrimental conditions such as tooth loss due to weakened bones. Ladies are also more susceptible to hormonal fluctuations in vulnerable moments such as the following:

1. Puberty

As mentioned above, raging hormones can cause the gums to inflame and bleed thanks to an increased rush of blood. In addition to gum sensitivity, the inflamed gums can also develop canker sores and tooth loss at the worst-case scenario.

Brushing twice a day using fluoride toothpaste can help reduce the symptoms, especially since it removes the plaque build-up that can aggravate your gums. With fewer bacteria surrounding the teeth and gums, the inflammation can lessen.

2. Period

Women’s hormones typically spike up during monthly periods, which could increase your sensitivity and lead to swollen salivary glands, bleeding gums, and canker sores. These symptoms should subside once your menstrual cycle ends for the month, but if it persists, be sure to check with your doctor as you may need to undergo cleaning.

3. Pregnancy

There’s no doubt that a woman’s hormones are on a roller coaster ride, falling only second to the hyperdrive you would experience during menopause. With that in mind, women often struggle with gingivitis between the second to eight months of pregnancy.

Staying on top of your oral hygiene can do wonders in minimizing the gum inflammation and mitigating bleeding, soreness, and redness.

The Bottom Line: How Hormones And Oral Health Are Connected In More Ways Than One

Women know that hormones can wreak havoc on different aspects of a person’s life - from the weight and mood, but it also impacts your oral health in more ways than one. From experiencing dry mouth due to a decrease in saliva production to gum a plethora of gum diseases, your hormones can bring more trouble in surprising ways.

Letting it go untreated can lead to bone loss around the jaw, which ends up in tooth loss, but checking with your dentist and maintaining good oral hygiene can help reduce the symptoms by a significant margin.

Looking to bring back the confidence behind your smile? Our qualified and reliable local dentists in Waterford, MI, USA can help improve your dental health with our multifaceted services. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation!