Even if we try to level the playing field between men and women, there will always be key differences that separate us from one another. Besides the physical characteristics, there are hormonal differences that affect women’s oral health, different then they would affect a man’s oral health. Although a woman’s body can handle bringing life into the world, some of those hormonal differences give women a disadvantage when it comes to being more susceptible to a variety of oral health issues. A lot of this is due to the hormonal changes that occur in women during:

• Puberty
• Monthly menstrual cycles
• Using birth control
• Pregnancy
• Menopause

These hormonal changes can affect the blood supply to gum tissue and how the body naturally responds to toxins. This can result in woman becoming more prone to gingivitis when pregnant or during the start of a menstrual cycle. Certain birth control pills can increase progesterone levels which causes gum tissue to become inflamed. During menopause women may experience increased sensitivity in their teeth and a lower production of saliva flow. This can result in dry mouth, and tooth decay. In general, woman in their teen years or over the age of 50 aren’t getting enough calcium in their diet. Lack of calcium can mean low bone mass, which can cause osteoporosis, teeth to fall out and a higher chance of bone fracture.

This means that it is important for women to go to the dentist regularly to prevent oral health issues from occurring. If you need to speak with a dentist or have any questions, contact Greenspoint Dental. We have general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry to help you get the smile you want.