International Women’s Day: A Focus On Women’s Dental Health at Bashyam Dental Care!

Every year on March 8 we celebrate International Women’s Day. Although it’s mostly known for celebrating and raising awareness for women’s economic, political and social achievements, we think International Women’s Day is also an important time to shine a spotlight on women’s oral health.

Importance of Women's Dental Health

A woman’s oral health is essential for her overall systemic health. Certain diseases like heart disease and respiratory stroke disorders are all related to gum diseases, mainly because of the bacteria present that can be transported across the bloodstream. As compared to men, women’s oral health is affected in several stages of life, such as puberty, mensuration, pregnancy, and menopause.

Why do women need to be attentive towards their oral health?

Women are always the compass of a family. Women bring their children, husbands, and parents to the dental clinic. But more often than not when they are asked if they want a check-up, they reply with a smile, “Not for me. Thanks. I am good.” But that needs to change. You need to take care of yourself to set a living example to your loved ones who you care for. In fact, being a woman demands extra dental care, thanks to the various kinds of hormonal changes.

1.Gum Issues

Women are bombarded with hormonal changes mainly Estrogen and Progesterone throughout their lifetime. These changes take a toll on your gum health.

Due to the hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle, some women experience oral changes and hygiene issues, including bright red swollen gums, swollen salivary glands, development of canker sores, or bleeding gum.

Oral contraceptive pills can be taken for a number of reasons and will often have an effect on the levels of oestrogen in your body. As your gums have a large number of oestrogen receptors, they become prone to inflammation and sensitivity.

Pregnant women are more likely to develop gingivitis due to pregnancy hormones affecting the way the gums react to plaque. This can then lead to periodontitis, which can cause loss of tissue and bone which holds the teeth firm.

Menopause is a stage in women’s life that causes biological and endocrine changes that occur due to a decline in estrogen levels that causes risk of bone loss, osteoporosis and inflammation of the tissues. During this time, women undergo numerous oral changes such as a burning sensation, decreased salivary flow, altered taste and greater sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages, which negatively affect dental health.

2.Teeth Issues

It’s not news that women are more vulnerable to bone degeneration and other bone-weakening issues. Teeth and jaws consist of bone and hence require special attention in women. Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis don’t just affect the big knee or hip bones. They can also make you lose bone density in your jaws, gums and teeth leading to tooth loss.

During pregnancy teeth, pain is also common due to changes in pain threshold levels because pregnancy causes changes in hormonal level

3.Other Issues

High blood pressure, and blood sugar is also related to dental health issues. The most relatable issues will be bad breath and cavities. Many dental issues can be avoided if you have properly aligned teeth without gaps or overcrowding. You can fix your misaligned teeth with braces. Don’t worry as With Invisalign, there is now no age limit to who can get braces.

Let’s look at some preventive measures and tips for keeping your teeth and gums healthy across different stages of your life.

• Use toothpaste containing fluoride to brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day.

• Intake of a nutritious and well-balanced diet.

• Change your toothbrush 3 or 4 times per year

• Avoid artificially sweetened foods and drinks.

• Reduce intake of sugary and starchy snacks.

• A visit in time saves nine. Consult your dentist immediately if you develop any symptoms and get them treated at the earliest.

• Do not smoke or use smokeless tobacco

• Make sure you visit your dentist at least twice a year to undergo professional oral examinations.

To conclude, various gum problem in teeth arises such as your gums will feel swollen, sometimes irritated, sometimes dry and retracted. This makes your gums more vulnerable to gum diseases and recession. The best way to deal with it is to keep away plaque as far as possible. And the only way to do that is to maintain good dental hygiene, regular dental visits, and biannual professional cleaning.