Oral health plays a very important role in women’s health. Due to the numerous hormonal changes that occur during puberty, pregnancy and menopause, women are more vulnerable to these changes that can lead to poor oral health. On 8 March International Women’s Day, I would like to shed light on the importance of oral health for women and draw attention to how oral health and general health are related.
Adolescence
During puberty, the female body produces plenty of estrogen and progesterone. An increase in these hormones can cause bleeding, redness or swelling of the gums. It can also cause cavities, bad breath and in some cases even periodontitis. Regular visits to the dentist and good oral health care can help adolescent women maintain healthy gums and teeth.
Pregnancy
Many people have the misconception that oral health has nothing to do with pregnancy, but maintaining oral health during this period is extremely important. If you do not do this, you may experience gingivitis, redness, tenderness and bleeding. This increases the risk of women having a miscarriage, premature birth, low-weight baby. Therefore, it is very important for women to pay attention to dental care during pregnancy. If possible, it is recommended to have a comprehensive dental examination and treatment of existing dental conditions before the planned pregnancy. However, if you experience any dental problems during pregnancy, you should immediately go to the dentist for the necessary checks. The ideal period for pregnancy is the second trimester.
Menopause
Menopause is the last phase of the female reproductive cycle, so women need to pay more attention to their health during this period. Many women going through this natural process often complain of dry mouth as a result of a decrease in saliva production. Saliva is essential for good oral health, as it plays a very important role in fighting periodontal diseases and tooth decay. This is because it has the ability to neutralise acids in the mouth and cleanse food from the teeth. During menopause, the risk of developing osteoporosis increases for women due to hormonal changes. As in the whole body, they can suffer bone loss in the jaw. Women can prevent this problem by eating foods containing plenty of calcium and vitamin D.
For women, hormonal changes can be an integral part of their lives. However, this does not mean that you should compromise your smile, no matter what stage of life or age you are.