Can Hormonal Imbalance Cause Oral Health Problems?

Hormones are chemical messengers in human bodies. They are produced in endocrine glands and travel through the bloodstream giving your organs instructions on what to do. Hormonal imbalance is a sign that you either have too little or too much of a hormone in your body. This is easily translated to your gums impacting how your blood reacts to plaque buildup. This might often be the main cause of gingivitis and other periodontal diseases.

WHY IS IT RAMPANT IN WOMEN?

Oral health problems can happen to anyone regardless of gender. Although hormonal imbalance affects men, it is higher in women and oral health problems might come along. Women experience different stages of hormonal changes throughout their lives. During stages like puberty, pregnancy, and menopause women experience a change in sex steroid hormones. This can cause a noncancerous tumor in the gum tissue called pyogenic granuloma that bleeds easily and is painful. During the five different stages in women, that is, puberty, menstruation using oral contraceptives, pregnancy, and menopause, there is a rise in the progesterone and estrogen levels increasing the chances of having inflammation in the gums. Due to this, women are advised to often see their dentist for checkups.

HORMONAL CONNECTION TO TMJ

Research has it that birth control pills, synthetic estrogens, can reduce the production of estrogen. This is associated with the oral disorder affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) on the jaw palates. The temporomandibular joint, what is it? It is the joint that holds in place the jaws on the side of your head and is in charge of the muscles that control the chewing and movement of the jaw. Low production of estrogen can cause inflammation in the joint and osteoarthritis.

HORMONAL CHANGES IN MEN

This does not mean that hormonal imbalance happens in women only, the reduced production of testosterone in men is also associated with jaw defects. According to research done by the Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry on five primates, the jaws of males with low testosterone levels are prone to periodontal diseases. Testosterone levels are known to decrease as you age. Therefore, it is advisable to regularly visit your dentist for examination. A healthy mouth means healthy hormones. Call us today.

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