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belonging to the Academy of General Dentistry. As one of the 35,000 general dentists in the United Sates and Canada who are member of the Academy, your dentists
participates in an ongoing program of professional development and continuing education to remain current with advances in the profession and to provide quality patient
treatment. Visit the AGD’s website at www.agd.org. You have permission to photocopy this page and distribute it to your patients.
Women's Dental Health
Do women need to be more
careful with their oral health?
Women's oral health depends on
their different stages of life. For
many women, these changes are
directly related to surges in sex
hormone levels, such as in puberty,
menstruation, pregnancy, lactation
and menopause. Women are also
more likely to be diagnosed with
TMJ, Myofascial pain, eating
disorders, and Sjogren's Syndrome
(dry mouth).
What types of conditions will my
dentist watch for?
As a woman, you need to adhere to
good oral hygiene. Make sure to
brush with fluoride toothpaste at
least twice a day and after each
meal when possible and floss
thoroughly each day. To help avoid
problems, your dentist may request
to see you more frequently during
hormonal surges.
Puberty--The surge in
hormones that occurs during
puberty may cause swollen gums,
especially during menstruation.
Herpes-type lesions and ulcers also
can develop. Girls may experience
sensitive gums that react more to
Irritants.
Oral Contraceptives--
Oral
contraceptives mimic pregnancy
because they contain progesterone
or estrogen. Therefore
gingivitis may occur with long-
term use. Use of certain antibiotics
while taking oral contraceptives
can decrease its effectiveness.
Women who use birth control
pills are twice as likely to develop
dry sockets and should consult their
dentist before scheduling major
dental procedures.
Pregnancy--Pregnant
women
have a risk for increased
inflammation of the gums because
of the surge in estrogen and prog-
esterone. If the plaque isn't
removed, it can cause gingivitis-
red, swollen, tender gums that are
more likely to bleed. And, women
with periodontal disease may be at
risk for pre-term, low-birth weight
babies.
They are also at risk for
developing pregnancy tumors
inflammatory, benign growths that
develop when swollen gums
become irritated. Usually these
tumors shrink soon after the
pregnancy is over.
If a women experiences
morning sickness, it is important to
neutralize the acid caused by
vomiting which causes tooth
erosion. Patients can use a paste
made of baking soda and water,
rubbing it on the teeth. After
30
seconds, rinse off the paste, then
brush and floss. If this is not
possible, rinse with water.
Menopause--During
menopause, some women can
experience dry mouth, burning
sensation, and changes in taste.
Gums can even become sore
and sensitive. Hormonal
replacement therapy may cause
gums to bleed, swell and
become red.
Other factors-Diet
pills and
certain medications (over-the-
counter and prescriptions) can
decrease salivary flow, which puts
patients at risk for cavities, gum
disease and discomfort.
Patients with eating
disorders, such as bulimia (self-
induced vomiting) can't hide their
symptoms from their dentists
because the episodes of binging
and purging cause erosion on the
backside of the upper front teeth.
(An additional sign is sores that
appear at the corners of the mouth.)
Smoking also creates a
higher risk for periodontal disease.
How will my dentist know if I
have a problem?
Keep your dentist informed if you
experience changes in your oral
health or if you are approaching a
different life stage. Also, visiting
your dentist regularly will help him
or her see any physical changes in
your mouth. Your dentist should
complete a thorough medical
history to determine if you are at a
higher risk for problems.
Sources: Barbara A. Rich, 005, FAGD;
Academy of General Dentistry; "H" is for
Hormones," journal of the Indiana Dental
Association; "For women only," RDH
magazine,
"Women's
oral
health
awarenes.o;
and
care-seeking
characteristics~ A pilot stud},," jADA.
