Do Women Need More Dental Attention?

It's official. Women and men are NOT created dentally equal. Of course, good dental hygiene habits are the same for all people, regardless of gender. But growing evidence shows women may be significantly more susceptible to serious health consequences unless they maintain a tremendously vigilant home hygiene campaign against tooth decay and gum disease. In fact, in every season of a woman's life, she's wise to take special precautions with regard to her oral health: during every monthly cycle, during pregnancy and especially after menopause.

First, monthly hormone fluctuations and the resulting increased salivary proteins make women prone to bad breath just prior to their monthly cycles. To combat this, women should brush more diligently, floss more carefully, use a tongue scraper after each meal, and use a chlorine-stabilized alcohol-free mouth rinse every five hours. Pregnancy is another time for extra-vigilant dental hygiene. A mother's dental health impacts not only her own oral health but the health of her child's developing teeth ---as early as six weeks after conception. Further, the presence of periodontal disease in women is closely linked to the incidence of osteoporosis, and vice versa. To make matters worse, after 35 years of age, periodontal disease in women is often a precursor to permanent tooth loss. Why? Gum disease leads to gum detachment, which can lead to tooth loss, which is linked to overall bone loss. Thus, in addition to vigilant home hygiene, older women should be screened for osteoporosis and simultaneously take the necessary precautions with their oral health.

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