Hormones and your gums: what women should know.

Gum tissue is sensitive to hormonal shifts in ways most people are not told about at a regular dental visit. For women, those shifts happen at predictable points across a lifetime. Knowing when they occur makes it easier to catch changes in the gums before they become problems.

During puberty, rising levels of progesterone and estrogen increase blood circulation to the gums. The tissue becomes more reactive. Food particles and plaque that would normally cause minor irritation can trigger swelling, redness, and tenderness. This is not disease, but it is the kind of environment where disease starts easily if it is not monitored.

Some women also notice changes tied to their menstrual cycle. A condition sometimes called menstruation gingivitis can cause bleeding gums, bright red and swollen tissue, and sores inside the cheek. It typically appears right before the period starts and resolves once it does. Cyclical and predictable, but worth mentioning to a periodontist if it keeps recurring.

Pregnancy introduces a longer and more significant hormonal window. Increased blood flow combined with hormonal changes makes gum tissue more susceptible to inflammation. The American Academy of Periodontology notes that some studies have suggested pregnant women with periodontal disease may be more likely to deliver early or at low birthweight. A periodontal evaluation in the first trimester is not a luxury item.

At menopause and after, the picture shifts again. Lower estrogen levels can lead to dry mouth, burning sensations in the gum tissue, and altered taste. Bone density changes that accompany menopause can also affect the bone supporting the teeth, which is where a periodontist's perspective overlaps with broader health management.

The common thread across all of these stages is that the gums are responding to something systemic. The care plan needs to account for it. Regular periodontal maintenance and targeted gum disease treatment when indicated keeps the underlying biology from becoming an irreversible problem. New patients are welcome. (310) 903-7674.

Dr. Sharyar Baradaran, DDS, MS is a periodontist in Beverly Hills and a member of the American Academy of Periodontology. He has been in practice for more than 32 years.