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Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Women's Dental Health

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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, Myofacial pain, eating disorders, and Sjogren's Syndrome (dry mouth).

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.

Women who use birth control pills are twice as likely to develop dry sockets and should consult their dentist before scheduling major dental procedures.

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.

Patients with eating disorders, such as bulimia (self-induced vomiting), can't hide their symptoms from their dentists because the episodes of bingeing 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.

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, DDS, FAGD; Academy of General Dentistry; "H" is for Hormones, " Journal of the Indiana Dental Association; "For women only," RDH Magazine, "Women's oral health awareness and care-seeking characteristics: A pilot study," JADA.

This information was compiled for you by the Academy of General Dentistry. Your dentist cares about long-term dental health for you and your family and demonstrates that concern by belonging to the Academy of General Dentistry. As one of the 35,000 general dentists in the United States and Canada who are members of the Academy, your dentist 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.