5 Oral Hygiene Tips for Women
Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is crucial for overall health and confidence. Women, in particular, can benefit from tailored dental care routines to address their unique needs influenced by hormonal changes, birth control, and menopause. Here are five indispensable oral hygiene tips every woman should know!
1. Take Extra Care of Your Teeth While On Your Period
Did you know that your period can affect your teeth? The change in estrogen and progesterone levels that occur in the lead-up to/start of your period can make you more prone to infection and have a very real impact on your gums and teeth. Specifically, the increase of progesterone in your system can cause bright red or swollen gums, as well as bleeding gums. Some women also get more canker sores while on their period. Now, although there are no oral health tricks to regulate your hormones, consistent brushing and flossing does lower your risk of infection and can help mitigate symptoms brought on by your period.
2. Tell Your Dentist About Your Birth Control
This might seem a bit awkward and unnecessary but telling your dentist about what kind of birth control you’re on is actually really important. Dr. Khan from the Cleveland Clinic has reported that “certain medicines, such as antibiotics, that your dentist might prescribe can lower the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.” Not only that, but women who take hormonal birth control are at a higher risk for a dental condition called dry socket. This condition occurs after a tooth has been removed, a clot has formed to cover the empty socket, and that clot has fallen out, leaving the nerves in your gums exposed. Because taking hormonal birth control makes this painful circumstance more likely, it's important to discuss with your dentist what options are available to you should you need to have a tooth pulled.
3. Be Aware of the Oral Effects of Menopause
The drop in estrogen that occurs during menopause can have some negative repercussions for your teeth. As if you didn’t already have enough things to worry about! This decrease in estrogen lessens the amount of saliva in your mouth. If you’ve read any of our other blogs then you know that moisture is the mouth’s best friend. It fights bacteria, tooth decay, and bad breath. A lack of moisture means that all of those things are more likely to occur. Dry mouth means you are at a higher risk for cavities, sensitive gums, infections, and tooth decay. If you’re experiencing a decrease in saliva, try chewing Xylitol gum throughout the day. Xylitol gum not only increases saliva production but it can help inhibit plaque buildup!
4. Prioritize Dentist Visits
As women, our bodies and hormones are constantly shifting, leaving our teeth vulnerable. The best thing you can do for your teeth, aside from consistent daily care, is to prioritize your dentist visits. You should be seeing your dentist every 6 months. If you don’t love your dentist and you dread going in for your appointments, find a new dentist! I, myself, went to three separate hairdressers before I found one I wanted to stick with. So why not do the same with your dentist? There are so many incredible dental professionals out there. Make the effort to find one that you connect with and enjoy seeing. Then, should a problem arise, you’ll feel confident that you have the best person possible in your corner.