Women, Hormones and Dental Health

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In our office we try to play a major role in the oral health of all of our patients. We have found that women have unique and special needs that need to be addressed. The hormonal stages that women go through not only affect mood but frequently effect their dental health. These need to be taken into consideration in their dental care plan. The following is a list of how different times of a woman's life as they are related to their oral condition. Remember that?teeth are designed to last a lifetime and will do so when well taken care of.

Puberty- During puberty sex hormones can cause the blood vessels in the gums to enlarge. This intern can cause red, bleeding and swollen gums. It is not uncommon for young women to experience an increase of the bacteria in the mouth leading to bad breath problems. The combination of swelling, bleeding, and odors is a reliable sign of bacterial increase. This "Pregnancy Gingivitis" is considered an early form of gum disease and requires treatment and evaluation?in a dental office. Infections of any type can have an adverse effect on the baby.

Teens- Fluctuating hormones of teenage women often lead to behavioral changes. Neglect of care of their teeth is often seen along with a poor diet. We work especially hard to build a relationship with teenagers to help motivate them to care for their teeth in addition to diet improvement. Relationship building is usually done with the dental hygienist on a one to one, woman to woman basis. In all teenagers the newly erupted 3rd molars frequently develop decay and are hard to keep clean. We recommend electric tooth brushes for all teenagers during this time.

Adulthood-?One of the components of?birth control pills is estrogen which acts like the hormones of pregnant women. Women who use this estrogen type of birth control can have the same problems as seen in puberty. Bleeding, swelling, redness and odor are associated with estrogen medications in certain individuals. Bleeding gums, cold sores and canker sores are seen during certain times during the menstrual cycle especially during menstruation. Again, dental care is indicated.

Menopause- At the time of menopause there is a very sharp decline in hormone levels as the ovaries decrease their output. During this phase of a woman's life we find?there often is a burning sensation in the mouth. It is common to see this very annoying problem in 30% of women. In addition a dry mouth is not unusual. Changes in tastes can also result from a loss of hormones. Estrogen replacement therapy can be used to reduce this problem. Fluoride treatments are necessary to minimize the negative affects of a dry mouth which include increased decay and odor.?

Post Menopausal- The loss of bone is a problem that many women experience when they have osteoporosis. The bone loss can affect the teeth and jaws as well as other parts of the body. In severe cases the teeth can become loose and mobile. Dental x-rays can reveal this condition. Medical care and medication is needed with osteoporosis. Petiodontitis, a major form of gum disease is often seen and is a major problem.

Pregnancy- The hormonal changes of pregnancy often results in very swollen bleeding gums. This occurs approximately 65% of the time. The problem is called pregnancy gingivitis. Pregnancy gingivitis is troubling and can lead to an increased chance of more serious gum diseases. Both food cravings and increased appetite also play a role in this problem. Erosion of the enamel can occur if there is vomiting. An exceptional oral hygiene program helps control this problem.

Recommendations

We recommend that all women take the following steps to protect your overall oral health.

1. Increased Dental Checkups- We recommend visiting your dentist frequently and on a very regular basis. In order to maintain good oral health more frequent visits can catch problems in their earliest stages. We hope to both?anticipate and avoid serious oral health problems.
2. Improved Brushing- Twice a day brushing becomes very critical as hormones both fluctuate and perminantly change. Be sure to brush the gum lines, and the insides of your teeth. Also be sure to brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper. This will remove bacteria from your mouth. We recommend that you replace your toothbrush at least once every three months. A ultra sonic toothbrush can be very beneficial.
3. More Flossing- Flossing cleans the areas between the teeth and removes bacteria that a toothbrush can't get to. Don't forget to floss under your gums lightly as this area is commonly missed and full of bacteria.
4. Improved Diet- We always recommend that you try to reduce sugars as they can lead to tooth decay, especially in a dry mouth situation. Also very harmful are hard candies and chewing?gum that expose the teeth to sugars over a long period of time. A reduction in the number of all carbonated drinks is important also. Multiple vitamins are needed when a well balanced diet is not maintained, especially vitamin C.