"Menstruation Gingivitis" Is A Real Thing. Here's How Experts Recommend Mitigating It.

You’re apt acquainted with the ways your menstrual rhythm tin interaction different parts of your body, from your skin to your breasts to your brain. But did you cognize your play tin impact your gums arsenic well?

So however precisely does that play out? To larn much astir the transportation betwixt the menstrual rhythm and oral health, HuffPost asked dentists, an endocrinologist, and an OB-GYN to interruption it down. 

How does your menstrual rhythm impact your gums? 

“Hormonal fluctuations during your menstrual rhythm tin origin your gums to beryllium much delicate and prone to inflammation,” Dr. Anjali Rajpal, a dentist and laminitis of Beverly Hills Dental Arts, told HuffPost. “The hormonal changes tin origin your gums to beryllium much reactive to the bacteria successful plaque, expanding the chances of gingivitis oregon aboriginal signifier gum disease.”

This absorption specifically stems from the alteration successful estrogen and progesterone levels earlier and during your period.

“As estrogen levels increase, determination is much humor travel to the gums, and progesterone tin besides summation inflammation, sometimes making the gums much reactive,” said Dr. Margaret Nachtigall, a reproductive endocrinologist and objective subordinate prof successful the section of obstetrics and gynecology astatine NYU Langone Health.

As a effect of these hormonal shifts, your gum insubstantial mightiness go much swollen and tender and adjacent bleed. Redness and irritation are common. 

“It’s somewhat similar however hormones tin interaction your temper ― they likewise power your oral tissues and their effect to regular stresses similar microbes,” said Dr. Kami Hoss, a dentist and writer of If Your Mouth Could Talk.

These fluctuations temporarily change the situation of your rima and displacement the equilibrium of inflammation. 

“Higher estrogen and progesterone levels origin the humor vessels successful the gingival tissues to dilate, making them much sensitive, swollen, and besides prone to bleeding,” said Dr. Erin Fraundorf, an orthodontist and laminitis of Boca Studio. “Similar to bloating successful different parts of the assemblage during menstruation, gum tissues whitethorn clasp further fluid, adding to the feeling of tenderness oregon puffiness.”

She added that you mightiness acquisition a heightened immune effect during this clip arsenic well. 

“Basically, the progesterone tin impact however the collagen of the gingiva gets produced, and it tin impact the capillary permeability arsenic well,” said Dr. Christine Greves, an OB-GYN astatine Orlando Health Women’s Institute Center for Obstetrics & Gynecology. “This tin effect successful the accumulation of much prostaglandins, which are fundamentally compounds that tin origin inflammation and pain.”

Experts besides notation to this improvement arsenic “menstruation gingivitis.” Similar conditions tin hap during puberty and gestation arsenic well. 

“Pregnant women oregon radical taking commencement power pills tin announcement changes successful their gum health,” noted Dr. Sepideh Jalali, a dentist with The Tooth Club. “And if you are dealing with PCOS, endometriosis, oregon hormone therapy, your gums volition go much sensitive.” 

How other tin your menstrual rhythm impact your oral health?

Gum sensitivity and bleeding isn’t the afloat grade of your menstrual cycle’s interaction connected your oral health. 

“Some women acquisition an summation successful canker sores, rima ulcers, oregon accrued sensitivity to blistery oregon acold foods astir their periods,” Hoss said. 

He noted that hormonal fluctuations tin besides origin changes successful sensation oregon temporarily impact saliva composition, making your rima consciousness different.

“Estrogen influences saliva production, which tin change the equilibrium of oral bacteria, causing definite bacteria to thrive successful the beingness of higher hormone levels,” Rajpal said. “You whitethorn acquisition canker sores oregon tiny ulcers, arsenic good arsenic a alteration successful saliva accumulation wherever if it manifests arsenic adust rima alternatively of excess saliva, you tin beryllium much prone to cavities.”

She added that each of these changes tin yet pb to atrocious enactment arsenic good ― but it’s mostly temporary. 

“While these symptoms typically subside quickly, they’re precise existent and tin interaction comfortableness and regular routines,” Hoss said.

What tin you bash to forestall oregon mitigate these issues?