There is a lot of talk about the heights and depths of the menstrual cycle of women – cramps, mood swings, skin outbursts – but have you ever thought about how your period affects your smile? This is correct – these monthly hormonal fluctuations do not only close with your mood or skin. You can also have a surprisingly big impact on your oral health. Dr. Ockert Bekker, founder and dentist at Bekker Dental & Aesthetics, differentiates how menstrual cycles influence oral health.
The connection between menstrual cycles and oral health
Estrogen and progesterone increase throughout the female menstrual cycle. These hormones influence everything from their energy level to their appetite, but also affect blood flow to their gums and the reaction of their body to plaque (the structure of their teeth).
In certain phases of your cycle, especially in the days before your period, you can determine:
- Gum sensitivity: Your gums can be tender, particularly sensitive or even bleeding. This is due to the fact that an increased hormone level can lead to your gums are more inflamed.
- Chewing gum swelling: You may even see a little swelling along your chewing gum line. This is due to the increased inflammatory reaction of your body during the luteal phase (after ovulation and before your period).
- Bad breath: As if cramps were not enough, some women report a not so first feeling in their mouth during their period. Changes in the hormone level can change the bacterial balance in your mouth, which can contribute to less pleasant breath.
Read more: How to increase your fitness by adapting your exercise routine to your menstrual cycle
The monthly cycle of your mouth
Here is a short summary of how your smile could change during her monthly cycle, according to Dr. Bekker:
- Menstruation (days 1-5): Gums can feel sore or inflamed; Bad breath for some more striking.
- Follicle phase (days 6-14): Things calm down – this is often when your gums feels his best.
- Ovulation (day 14): Hormone Peak – Some women experience a mild sensitivity of the gums.
- Lutea-Phase (days 15-28): Progesterone increases and leads to swelling and/or bleeding gums in some cases.
Read more: Yes, bad oral health is strongly associated with serious diseases
How to support your oral health
While you cannot stop your cycle, you can use a few intelligent habits to be ahead of the hormonal oral changes:
- Stay in accordance with oral hygiene: Brush twice a day (be gentle when your gums is sore), rinse dental floss every day and with a alcohol -free mouthwash. I can highly recommend Curaprox Perio Plus mouthwater balance. If dental floss is not for you, a water locksmith may be a good solution. Waterpik Water Flosser is a favorite for our patients.
- Snack intelligent: Sugar -containing desire during your period? Try healthier alternatives such as fruit or nuts: you feed fewer bacteria in your mouth.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Water helps to rinse bacteria and prevents the mouth prevents the mouth – a common cause of bad breath.
- Do not skip the dentist: Let your dentist know whether you notice a pattern of gum problems in your cycle. Additional care can be recommended.
- See a professional: If your chewing gum problems with every cycle are serious, consistent or worsened, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your dentist or oral hygienist. Hormonal changes are normal, but they shouldn’t make painful pain.
The human body is beautifully complex and its oral health is part of this picture. The more you understand how your menstrual cycle affects your smile, the better you can take care of yourself all month. So the next time you notice that your gums behave in panic. It could only be her hormones that talks – and her body reminds her of showing some love for her smile.
Read more: “Why do I have stinking, white pieces in my mouth?”
By Dr. Ockert Bekker, founder and dentist at Bekker Dental & Aesthetics
About Dr. Bekker
Founder and dentist at Bekker Dental & Aesthetics
Dr. Ockert Bekker is a very accomplished dentist who is known for his passion and commitment to excellent benefits in patient care and advanced dentistry. He holds a BCHD from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and several postgraduate diplomas in endodontic and aesthetic dentistry. His striving for continuous learning caused him to complete an implant scholarship at New York University (NYU) and an orthodontic Aligner scholarship, which further improves its ability to offer the latest tooth solutions.
Dr. Bekker is proud to stay at the head of modern dentistry and to pursue a holistic approach to dental care that combines technical expertise with a patient -oriented philosophy. His practice, Bekker Dental & Aesthetics with branches in Durbanville and Paarl, is equipped with the latest technology to ensure personalized treatments that prioritize long -term oral health and aesthetic excellence.
Dr. Bekker and his extensive team are known for the extra parts and create an inviting environment in which the comfort of patients is of the greatest importance. Regardless of whether the smile with aesthetic treatments or the restoration of the function is improved by complex methods, they provide results that are as beautiful as they last.
