Hormone Changes
Both estrogen and progesterone are essential for reproductive health, but they also indirectly affect oral health. The major hormone fluctuations in a woman’s life happen during menstruation, puberty, pregnancy, oral contraceptives, and menopause, increasing her risk for oral health issues.
The hypothalamus releases estrogen into the bloodstream beginning in adolescence. Elevated estrogen levels and increased blood flow to the gums might cause gum inflammation, swelling, and tenderness and lead to canker sores.
Most women are also at increased risk during menstruation and PMS. This is because the rise in progesterone throughout the menstrual cycle can cause gingivitis which may eventually subside after the period. Women on birth control have increased progesterone levels and may have an increased response to the toxins generated by plaque, resulting in gum tissue inflammation. During pregnancy, a woman’s hormone levels dramatically change. As a result, pregnancy gingivitis, caused by an elevated amount of progesterone, may occur at any time from the second to the eighth month of pregnancy.
A menopausal woman may have symptoms of reduced saliva production, dry mouth, and alterations in taste. Because saliva normally moistens and cleans the mouth by neutralizing acids created by plaque, menopausal women are more prone to gum disease and mouth ulcers.
