Many people may feel that maintaining good dental health poses quite a challenge, but do you know that it is more challenging for women to do so? Women and their bodies undergo significant changes throughout their lives, which might include pregnancy and monthly cycles. These happen because of the changes in their hormones and they are primarily responsible for the shift in their body’s chemistry. Studies have shown that among women, there is an increased risk of contracting some periodontal diseases due to the fluctuation of female hormones.
Big changes in female hormones tend to occur at menstruation, puberty, menopause as well as pregnancy. When the hormones fluctuate, the conditions in their mouth also change and allow bacteria to grow or even enter their bloodstream. This type of bacterial development may intensify and cause certain health issues to surface. For instance, an individual woman may suffer bone loss in specific areas such as the mouth. Here are some primary dental challenges a female must deal with while significant hormonal events take place.
Menopause
When a female experiences menopause, they may also experience some dental challenges such as the following:
• Burning mouth syndrome: This can affect the lips, gum tissues, tongue and even the tissues inside the cheek. It typically occurs from the sensory nerves and changes taste in the mouth. It can also be a result of poor nutrition, dry mouth and even allergic reactions to certain drugs or food. If you are affected by any of these symptoms, you should contact your dentist right away to relieve the discomfort.
• Changes in bone density: Estrogen decreases during menopause, and this puts women at greater risk of losing their bone density. Tooth loss can result from loss of bone in the jaw area. Another sign of bone loss in the female’s jawbone is also gum recession. If the gums recede, it will expose the tooth surface to chances of tooth decay. To cover the receding areas, the affected individual should seek gingival grafting.
Pregnancy
When a woman is pregnant, hormones such as progesterone, estrogen, and others rise and fall weekly. Due to these occurrences, existing dental issues can worsen. In other words, certain dental problems that were once dormant can become unbearable during pregnancy. If a woman does not pay extra attention and care to their dental health, they may increase their risks of developing tooth decay, advancement of periodontal disease and even pregnancy gingivitis. It’s been discovered that women with existing periodontal disease have a higher chance of having low birth weight babies and premature births.
Menstruation
During this cycle, a woman will experience natural changes in the ovaries and uterus to enable the possibility of pregnancy. Although mood changes are very common during this cycle, there may also be increased sensitivity in their gums as well as inflammation of gum tissues. Hence, maintaining good dental hygiene is of utmost importance during the menstrual cycle to keep dental symptoms at bay.
So, if you place an emphasis on your health and wellness, you should consult a dentist to rectify your dental problems regularly. Your dentist will also have more information to guide you at different stages of your life so that these dental challenges for women can be overcome.
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