During puberty, before menstruation, during pregnancy or menopause, women’s gums are the most affected. Time passes for everyone…
But in the case of the mouth, women suffer more than men.
The hormonal changes that occur at different stages of a woman’s life have consequences for the health of her smile.
From Clínica Cervera we explain what a woman’s mouth faces over the years.
Puberty The hormonal revolution that occurs during adolescence has consequences for the gums.
The increase in sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, produces an increase in blood circulation in the gums.
This promotes an exaggerated inflammatory response to bacterial plaque which results in bleeding.
This is what is known as “pubertal gingivitis”.
It usually appears around the age of 12, although it is generally a transient and reversible situation.
Fertile age Almost perfect hormonal levels have a protective role on gum health.
Occasionally, some women suffer from menstrual gingivitis, which can cause bleeding and inflammation of the gums and ulcers on the cheeks.
It appears just before menstruation and disappears once it has started.
Pregnancy Gingivitis or pregnancy gingivitis is a disease that affects between 60 and 75% of pregnant women, generally between the third and eighth months, which causes the gums to acquire a reddish color, become inflamed and bleed along with the accumulation of plaque.
This type of gingivitis is exacerbated by the hormonal and vascular changes typical of pregnancy.
Although it usually disappears after childbirth, it must be monitored so that it does not worsen since half of pregnant women who suffer from it can worsen their condition to periodontitis or “pyorrhea”.
During pregnancy, the risk of tooth decay also increases, as changes in salivary composition and flow make it difficult to neutralize acids in the mouth and repair enamel.
This can also be weakened by the vomiting characteristic of pregnancy.
Menopause Also during menopause, the gums are the most affected, running the risk of suffering from gingivitis or periodontitis.
This is because during this stage, estrogen levels are reduced (decreasing the anti-inflammatory effect of these hormones on the gums) and progesterone (reducing bone density and causing osteoporosis).
The hormonal reduction also causes a decrease in saliva secretion, which could lead to xerostomia or dry mouth syndrome.
Therefore, the chances of tooth decay and halitosis also increase.
“Burning mouth syndrome” may also appear, a burning and stinging sensation in the mouth that especially affects postmenopausal women.
Proper oral hygiene, regular check-ups with your dentist and a balanced diet help reduce women’s oral problems, regardless of the stage they are in.