No matter your age, hormones can impact your health, including your gum health. Hormonal changes and gum health are more closely connected than you might think. As a matter of fact, adjusting your oral hygiene and dental care habits in response to changing hormone levels can help you avoid adverse symptoms and ensure oral and physical health.
Managing Gum Health Across Different Stages of Life
Throughout your life, you’ll go through many different periods where hormone levels can change and fluctuate. Here’s what you need to know about hormonal changes and gum health in each situation.
Puberty
Increases in estrogen and progesterone during puberty bring about a wide range of changes, some more welcome than others. In terms of oral health, these hormones affect gum tissue response, increasing susceptibility to inflammation. This may lead to a higher risk of many common gum issues.
During puberty, your gums are more sensitive to plaque, which can lead to red, swollen, and bleeding gums. Canker sores are also more common during puberty and can lead to significant discomfort and pain. Maintaining routine oral hygiene and routine dental visits is essential during puberty to prevent these issues from becoming too serious.
Menstruation
Progesterone is one of the essential hormones involved in the menstrual cycle. It increases to a peak around a week after the egg releases, during the luteal phase of your cycle.[1] Similar to the increase in progesterone during puberty, this spike leads to increased gum sensitivity and inflammation.
Because menstruation is an ongoing cycle, regular oral hygiene is essential. Floss and brush your teeth twice daily. If you’re prone to sensitive teeth and gums, ask your dentist about oral hygiene products and potential treatment options for relief.
Using Birth Control
Birth control pills contain hormones that influence the menstrual cycle and other physical aspects in the body, including oral health. Birth control pills that contain progesterone will have a similar impact to the natural increases in progesterone from puberty or the menstrual cycle.
Modern birth control pills contain less progesterone than they used to, so their impact on oral health today isn’t quite so pronounced. However, you may still find yourself dealing with a variety of oral side effects.
For example, dry mouth can result from lower saliva production. This is a serious concern because saliva has natural antibacterial properties. If you have low saliva production, the bacteria responsible for gum disease can grow in greater numbers and cause various oral issues.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy brings distinct hormonal changes, including spikes in progesterone and estrogen. These changes are connected to a wide range of oral health concerns, such as a higher incidence of gum disease. In fact, up to 88% of pregnant women experience gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease.[2
Gingivitis is so prevalent in this period that “pregnancy gingivitis” is treated as a specific medical condition. Luckily, gum health typically returns to normal after pregnancy. However, if you have serious symptoms such as bleeding or receding gums, you should see your dentist to assess the situation and find effective treatment.
Menopause
Menopause significantly reduces estrogen levels. One of the most critical ways low estrogen affects oral health is through reduced saliva production. This increases the risk of gum disease and other complications, often compounding the risk of other age-related factors.
Because low saliva levels lead to higher levels of bacteria in the mouth, they increase the risk of infection. During this stage of life, you may require tooth replacement, extraction, dental implant placement, or other major dental procedures. As with many medical procedures that require surgery, this increases your risk of infection. Because of this increased risk of infection, it is essential that you follow all post-recovery instructions as stated by your dentist to ensure the success of your oral procedures.
Advice Concerning Hormonal Changes and Gum Health
Changes in hormones happen during many stages in your life, leading to various oral health concerns. However, you can take care of your smile and gums with advice from your trusted local dentist. Choose Albion Family Dental as your dental home, and we’ll provide personalized guidance and dental care to address your unique needs. Schedule your next appointment today. Call 585-589-9044.
Sources:
[1] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24613-low-progesterone