Relationship between Hormonal Changes And Dental Health Of A Woman

Relationship between Hormonal Changes And Dental Health Of A Woman : Hormones is that one thing which can make anything from your mood to your weight go haywire. Surprising though it may seem, hormones have the power of making a woman vulnerable to gum ailments. The reason behind the same is that the flow of blood towards your gums gets accentuated by female hormones such as progesterone and oestrogen which increases the sensitivity of your teeth.

Read on to know more about what you can we do to safeguard yourself from such outbreaks caused by hormonal imbalances during the five most vulnerable phases of your life.

Puberty

The gums of a teenager can be left all swollen and bleeding courtesy the raging hormones of teenage. Cases are not rare when the gums actually grow bigger due to its overreaction to plaque. Canker sores might also develop in some teenaged girls which heal by themselves. In such a scenario brushing twice daily with a sonicare or oral b toothbrush and following it up with flossing can be of great aid in removing bacteria and plaque thoroughly.

Periods

Women rarely notice the changes taking shape in their mouth while they are menstruating. Swollen salivary glands, canker sores, bleeding gums are some of the most common occurrences affecting the ladies while they are on their period. These symptoms triggered by hormonal changes usually subside once the period stops. However, it they still persist, then you need to visit your oral expert at the earliest. Discuss the sensitivity issues and your monthly menstruation cycle with the dentist and schedule oral cleanings a week after your period subsides.

Birth Control Medication

Women using oral contraceptives stand at heightened risk of experiencing the painful complication termed as dry socket while having their teeth removed. Also, certain oral medications can reduce the natural flair and productivity of birth control pills. The level of progesterone and oestrogen in the birth control drugs of modern times are substantially low for causing any oral issues. Yet it is necessary to inform your dentist about your past medical history and intake of birth control medications.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy creates a situation of hormonal hyper drive in ladies causing them to develop ailments such as gingivitis, which causes the gums to turn tender and sore. This usually happens in between the second and eighth month of pregnancy. However, maintaining good lifestyle habits can help you in overcoming the same. Apart from the regular brushing and flossing, dentists can recommend certain additional oral care techniques during the second and third trimester to keep gingivitis under control.

Menopause

This ushers in significant hormonal changes in the life of a woman in the form of increased oral sensitivity, burning sensations in the mouth and altered taste amongst others. Saliva as we all know rinses the cavity-causing bacteria from our teeth. But women experience dry mouth symptoms during menopause, when the flow of saliva reduces making us all more vulnerable to cavity attacks. Women can suck on sugar-free candy or ice chips, drink caffeine-free liquids and make use of over-the-counter spray for combating the dry mouth symptom.

Your eating habits also have a big role to play in determining your oral health. Thus, it is necessary to avoid spicy, salty, sugar and sticky foods as well as dry foods which can get pretty hard to chew.

Related Infographics:

How hormonal changes affects your dental health