Hormones can affect a lot in your body, especially your teeth and gums. See how hormonal shifts can increase the risk of periodontal disease and what you can do below.

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A Changing a Body Impacts Your Mouth

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Changes in hormone levels, especially during pregnancy, can have a major impact on a person’s oral health. As hormones fluctuate, they can affect how the body responds to bacteria in the mouth.

This can cause an increase in gum inflammation, and if left untreated, may progress to periodontal disease, tooth loss, and other systemic health conditions. It’s important that pregnant individuals, those going through menopause, and others with hormonal conditions take extra steps to manage their dental hygiene.

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How Hormones Affect Dental Health

During pregnancy, the increase of estrogen and progesterone hormones can affect blood flow and make gums more sensitive, swollen, and prone to infection. Progesterone also increases the amount of plaque on the teeth, which creates a breeding ground for harmful oral bacteria.

Pregnant individuals may develop small, benign cysts on their gums called pyogenic granulomas. While harmless, they can be painful and make dental hygiene difficult. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can also affect the gums.

“Morning sickness” and hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy can lead to frequent vomiting. While nausea is common during pregnancy, vomiting exposes the teeth to harmful gastric acids that can start breaking down the enamel. This makes them weaker and more vulnerable to cavities, which contributes to the other oral health challenges pregnant people face.

Individuals who take hormonal contraceptives like birth control pills, implants, and some IUDs can also experience similar changes in their oral health. These patients often find that after starting birth control, their gums are more swollen and sensitive to the touch than they were before. Taking extra care of your mouth while taking contraceptives can help minimize discomfort and reduce the increased risk of developing gum disease.

Did You Know?

Pregnant people are at a higher risk of gum infections due to inflammation of the gums caused by pregnancy hormones, says the CDC.

What to Look For

Here are some signs that you may be experiencing hormone-related gum disease:

  • Your gums are tender, red, and/or puffy
  • Your gums bleed easily when you brush or floss
  • You have bad breath that doesn’t go away, even after brushing or using mouthwash
  • You see white pockets in between your teeth and gums
  • You feel pain when chewing or brushing
  • Your gums look like they are pulling back from your teeth
  • Your teeth feel different when you bite down

Any changes to your baseline after starting hormone therapy, contraceptives, or being diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance should be checked as early as possible. This can help keep any infection you may have developed from worsening.

Ways to Manage Hormones and Oral Health

If you are dealing with hormone imbalances or another condition that affects your hormones, maintaining good dental hygiene is crucial. Here are some things you can do to help reduce your risk of developing gingivitis or gum disease:

  • Brush and floss in the morning, after meals, and before bed
  • Stay hydrated with water, unsweetened drinks, or beverages that use a natural sugar alternative
  • Avoid eating highly processed and sugary foods
  • Use a toothpaste and mouthwash with stannous fluoride instead of sodium fluoride, since this does a better job of killing harmful microbes in the gums
  • Chew sugarless gum to increase saliva production and reduce oral bacteria

Depending on your condition(s) and your individual risk factors for gum infections, you may need to schedule more frequent checkups and/or deep cleanings. At Green Dentistry, we provide a higher level of care and comfort that makes going to the dentist easier than ever.

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At Green Dentistry, we strive to build life-long relationships with our patients to help them feel secure about their smiles today and for many years to come. We want our patients to feel confident in the work we do together to give them not only beautiful smiles but also functionality and oral health to last a lifetime. We are also proud to give back — to people who are in need and to the environment that surrounds us. We are excited to make you the newest member of our holistic dental care family.
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Dr. Nammy Patel and her team at Green Dentistry in Downtown San Francisco, California, provide quality dentistry with a holistic approach. They offer their patients exceptional care and service in cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign treatment, laser dentistry, sleep apnea treatment, general holistic dentistry and so much more. They even offer sedation dentistry to their patients. They serve patients throughout the Bay Area. SF Green Dentist is within walking distance from Downtown and the Financial District.