A woman’s oral health at each stage of her life 

 

Did you know that hormonal changes can put women at higher risk of oral health problems at different times in their lives?  

For example, there are certain phases in a woman’s life when she is more likely to develop gingivitis, which is an early form of gum disease. While gingivitis is treatable, ignoring it can lead to serious health issues down the line, including tooth loss. 

Understanding how hormones affect your gums and teeth can help you identify changes you’re experiencing and take good care of your health at every stage of your life. Several factors can make women especially vulnerable to oral health issues: 

• When they go through puberty 

• During their monthly menstruation cycle (before or during your period) 

• If they take hormonal birth control  

• If they become pregnant 

• When they go through menopause 

Childhood 

 

Regardless of sex, it’s recommended that children of all ages have regular dental checkups every six months to a year (or more often if advised by their dentist). Many children don't receive the level of dental care that they need: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20 percent of kids between two and five years old have at least one cavity. Regular checkups help improve and maintain a child’s health. 

At puberty 

 

When girls begin puberty, which typically happens between 8 and 13 years of age (but could start sooner), they experience hormonal changes that can make their gums more sensitive and more likely to develop health issues. If a girl who is in this stage notices her gums bleeding more easily when she brushes her teeth or flosses, hormones could be a factor.  

During puberty, the female body produces more of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which can mean more blood flow to the gums. That means that even if a girl has been getting away with irregular tooth brushing before puberty without seeing any negative consequences, that could change when she becomes a preteen. 

As a parent or guardian, it’s very important to encourage preteens to brush and floss regularly. You can remind them that poor hygiene is related to bad breath in the short term, and serious health issues (including pain and tooth loss) in the long term.  

Menstrual cycles and changes to your oral health 

 

The same hormonal changes that affect girls during puberty can impact women many more times throughout their lives due to changes in the menstrual cycle. 

In the days leading up to their periods, some women notice their gums becoming red and swollen, or bleeding easily. This is called “menstruation gingivitis.” Fortunately, it tends to go away after one’s period has begun.  

Other symptoms during menstrual gingivitis may include mouth sores, canker sores and swollen salivary glands. 

Birth control pills and oral health 

 

If you’re taking a birth control pill that contains the hormone progesterone, you might notice your gums becoming inflamed, especially in the first few months after beginning the medication. There is also evidence that the use of birth control pills can make some people more susceptible to disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which affects your ability to chew and move your jaw. For some people, this can lead to inflammation and osteoarthiritis in the joint.  

It’s a good idea to tell your dentist about any medications you’re taking, including birth control pills. That’s because drugs that they may prescribe to you, such as antibiotics, could interfere with the effectiveness of birth control and make it less effective. 

During pregnancy 

 

Pregnancy impacts the body in many ways you might not expect, and it’s especially important to maintain regular medical and dental visits during this time – not only to maintain your own health, but to protect the health of your child.  

When people are pregnant, their bodies have a much higher level of the hormone progesterone, which can make you more vulnerable to bacterial plaque build-up. This can result in what’s called “pregnancy gingivitis.” If untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis – a serious gum infection that damages the soft issue around the teeth. 

Pregnant people with periodontitis are at a higher risk of developing preeclampsia – a condition that can lead to serious, even fatal complications for a mother and baby -- and delivering a preterm and/or low birth weight infant. If you have the bacteria that causes cavities, you can also pass it along to your baby, causing issues for them after they’re born. 

In addition to hormones, other changes can cause women’s dental health to suffer during pregnancy. For instance: 

• Morning sickness that results in vomiting, which can damage teeth.  

• Nausea that makes brushing or using toothpaste unappealing. 

• Stress and extra responsibilities in preparing for a child or attending prenatal appointments that lead people to skip dentist checkups or neglect attending to their personal health. 

• Changes to eating habits, such as more frequent snacking, l 

Fortunately, there is no reason to fear that routine dental checkups will put you or your child in danger. “Preventive, diagnostic and restorative dental treatment is safe throughout pregnancy,” states the American Dental Association (ADA). 

If your dentist suggests using a local anesthetic with epinephrine, which may include bupivacaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, that’s okay too, according to the ADA. 

Other oral health issues that can occur when you’re pregnant can include: 

• Pregnancy tumors (or pyogenic granulomas): A noncancerous tumor on your skin or mucous membranes that can be smooth or crusty and tend to bleed.  They occur for a small percentage of pregnant people and generally disappear after a baby is born. 

• Tooth decay (also known as dental caries or cavities) 

• Dental erosion: loss of tooth enamel (the outer part of your teeth) caused by regular exposure to acidic substances (such as throwing up from morning sickness). If you vomit, the ADA advises against brushing your teeth right after that happens. Instead, they suggest rinsing your mouth with “a diluted solution of 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda to neutralize the acid.” 

If you suspect you have any of these conditions, consult with a medical professional. 

During menopause 

 

You might associate menopause mainly with symptoms like hot flashes, but the impacts can extend to your teeth and gums as well. When women experience menopause, which most often occurs between the ages of 45-55, the levels of hormones in their bodies change dramatically.  

Menopause is defined as the point in which you’ve gone one full year without a menstrual cycle, while perimenopause refers to the time leading up to that point. During this time, your ovaries begin to produce less estrogen, which can lead to a number of other side effects. 

Menopause can cause some women to have less saliva and a drier mouth. Since saliva plays an important role in keeping your mouth clean, having less of it can lead to an inability to neutralize plaque acids. Other changes you might experience: 

• Sensitivity to hot or cold food and drinks.  

• Tooth pain. 

• Gum inflammation (or “menopausal gingivostomatitis”) which, much like in pregnancy or puberty, shows up as swollen, red gums that bleed when brushing or flossing. 

• Certain foods might taste unusual to you that did not before 

• “Burning mouth syndrome,” which creates a burning feeling inside the mouth. 

In addition, menopause causes a sharp drop in estrogen, which makes women significantly more likely to develop osteoporosis – a condition that makes bones weaker and more likely to fracture. Having osteoporosis makes you three times more likely to lose a tooth. You might also lose bone density in your jaw which can result in other dental issues such as pain, swelling or infection of the gums or jaw. 

How to maintain good dental health at every stage of life 

 

While women may be more vulnerable to dental health issues at different times in their lives, that doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily encounter issues, or that there’s nothing you can do to help prevent these issues. 

Regardless of your age, it’s very important to do the following to maintain good dental health: 

• Brush twice per day, for about two minutes each time, using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. 

• Floss at least once per day. 

• Maintain regular check-ups at your dentist. It’s wise to see a dentist for a routine check-up at least once per year, or more often if directed by your dentist. 

• Eat a healthy diet and be sure to get enough Calcium and Vitamin D 

• Avoid consuming too many sugary foods and beverages, which can contribute to tooth decay.