How Hormonal Changes Throughout A Woman’s Life Can Increase the Risk of Gun Disease and Tooth Decay

Being a woman at any age means contending with certain unique health risks. As a dental health care professional, We can help female patients manage these risks by educating them with the direct connections between a woman’s oral health and their overall health.
The teeth and gums hold vital clues to body-wide conditions, and poor oral health can increase the risk of certain fatal diseases such as heart disease which affects women disproportionately.
By learning to recognize the warning signs of systemic illness and by encouraging good oral health habits, we can help women enjoy longer & heathier lives.
Changing hormone levels can cause a woman’s gums to swell and become irritated. This may happen during ovulation and a few days before a woman starts her period when progesterone levels are high. Hormonal contraception can raise estrogen and progesterone levels, making gums sensitive, red, or swollen.
The higher hormone levels associated with birth control can also prevent blood clots from forming after teeth are removed. One study found that oral contraceptive use may increase the incidence of painful dry socket in women after mandibular third-molar extraction.
It’s crucial for women to develop good oral health habits and get regular cleanings and dental checkups. Gum disease often goes unnoticed until it reaches an advanced state, and it is associated with several potentially deadly health conditions.
People with periodontal disease are two to three times as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or other dangerous cardiovascular events, Gum disease may increase the risk of developing diabetes, possibly by  making it more difficult for people to control their blood sugar levels. . Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease in women by about four times and puts women at risk for blindness, kidney disease, and depression.
Bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can migrate to the lungs, triggering respiratory diseases such as pneumonia. People with gum disease are especially vulnerable to this phenomenon.
To protect their own health and that of their babies, pregnant women should continue regular dentist visits and receive all necessary dental treatments. Children whose mothers have multiple untreated cavities or tooth loss are more than three times as likely to have cavities themselves. During menopause, a woman’s estrogen levels drop significantly. This can have an impact on oral health and comfort. Low levels of estrogen can decrease the amount of saliva women generate. A dry mouth (xerostomia) can cause a number of oral health issues, such as sore and sensitive gums, cavities, ulcers, infections, and tooth decay.
After menopause, women face a higher risk of osteoporosis, which causes bones to weaken and break easily. Women with osteoporosis are three times as likely to lose teeth as those without. By following these recommendations, you are guaranteed a healthy dental & overall health . In order to prevent any dental problems, go see your dental professionals regularly, eat a well balanced diet, avoid tobacco products,get regular x rays and start using a power toothbrush and floss daily. If you have any questions or concern, please call the office of Dr. Kimberly A. Rosen at (661)255-2545.