Maintaining Periodontal Health Throughout A Woman’s Lifetime

A smile is the first impression that communicates a person’s happiness and confidence; if you want to keep that winning smile out in front, you will want to take special care of what is behind it – your periodontal health.

Periodontal health is connected to overall health. As your health care needs change throughout your life, during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, your oral needs may change too. Hormonal fluctuations during these times may affect your gum tissue and the underlying bone that support your teeth. These changes may increase our susceptibility to periodontal disease and require you to take special care of your oral health

Taking care of your oral health is an important part of your overall health. Learning more about how one affects the other will help you actively participate in your health care decisions.

Puberty and Menstruation

• Puberty
  Sex hormone production (progesterone and estrogen) increases when a young woman enters puberty. Studies show that these elevated hormone levels may cause an increase in gum sensitivity and lead to a greater reaction to any irritation, including food particles and plaque. During this time, the gums can become swollen, turn red, and may feel tender.
• Menstruation
  During menstruation, some women may experience menstruation gingivitis. This condition presents itself during ovulation or premenstruation and may cause gingival (gum) bleeding, redness or swelling of the gums between the teeth, sores on the inside of the lip and cheek, a slight burning sensation or gum discomfort. Menstruation gingivitis typically occurs right before a woman’s period and clears up once her period has started.

These conditions and symptoms tend to lessen as the amount of sex hormones decrease. It is important to maintain oral health during these hormonal fluctuations including at-home oral hygiene and regular professional dental care, so that the bone and tissues surrounding the teeth are not damaged. In some cases, periodontal treatment and antimicrobial agents (including antibiotics) may be recommended to ensure that your periodontal health is at its best.

Pregnancy

There used to be an old wives’ tale that said, “A tooth is lost for every child.” While it may seem far-fetched, it actually is based loosely on fact. Your teeth and gums are affected by pregnancy, as are other tissues in your body.

Most commonly, women can experience increased gingivitis, or pregnancy gingivitis, beginning in the second or third month, increasing in severity through the eighth month. During this time, some women notice swelling, bleeding, redness or tenderness in the gum tissue.

In some cases, gums swollen by pregnancy gingivitis can react strongly to local irritants and form a large lump. These growths, called pregnancy tumors or pyogenic granulomas, are not cancerous and are generally painless. They usually disappear after pregnancy, but some growths may require professional removal by one of our doctors.

The best way to avoid periodontal conditions associated with pregnancy is to begin with healthy gums. If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, you should visit a Periodontist for a comprehensive periodontal evaluation.

Seeking a Healthy Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, you need to know that your periodontal health can affect the pregnancy and ultimately the health of your baby. Studies have shown that any infection, including a periodontal infection during pregnancy, may put you at significant risk for delivering a preterm or low birth weight baby. In fact, studies have shown that periodontal inflammation may play a role in developing pre-eclampsia, a potentially deadly condition that affects approximately 5% of U.S. pregnancies. The risk is too great for you to take a chance, so include periodontal health as part of your prenatal care.

If you are already pregnant and have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, a simple non-surgical procedure called “Scaling and Root Planning” may significantly reduce your chances of having a preterm, low birth weight baby. Talk to one of our doctors about this procedure. A healthy mouth will give you, and your baby, something to smile about.

Infertility Treatment

Researchers have found that women undergoing infertility treatment and who are subjected to ovulation induction for more than three menstrual cycles had higher levels of gingival inflammation and bleeding.

Since periodontal diseases are chronic bacterial infections, more studies are needed to examine the possibility that a woman’s periodontal status may also affect the outcome of infertility treatment. Until more information is known, meticulous at-home care, professional cleanings, and a periodontal status update is a practical approach while receiving infertility treatment.

The good news is researchers are making strides to find out exactly how the periodontal disease affects pregnancy outcomes. Several early studies have found that treating periodontitis during pregnancy may significantly reduce the risks of a preterm birth. Preventing gum problems from developing during the stresses of pregnancy also appears to be important in improving the health of both the mother and baby.

Every mother wants to reduce the risk of having an unhealthy baby; therefore, the American Academy of Periodontology recommends that women considering pregnancy include a periodontal evaluation as part of their prenatal care because a healthy mouth will keep you and your baby smiling.