How Are Oral Health and Birth Control Related

1. How Are Oral Health and Birth Control Related? Women are often forced to make big decisions about their lives, such as when to have children. This decision can often mean taking birth control measures depending on a host of factors, which may include cost, convenience, and potential side effects. Whether bearing a child or taking birth control measures, hormones play a big role. In fact, hormones dictate emotions, mood, body changes, appetite, and a woman’s overall health. Given that there are a plethora of birth control methods available nowadays, their many side effects cannot be ignored. And one of the side effects could be the impact on oral health.

2. So, how are birth control methods and oral health connected? To understand the same, we must understand how hormonal changes affect women's overall health. However, as a precautionary measure, it is always advisable to pay a visit to your nearby dentist, say at the Northcote dental clinic, and get yourself diagnosed and treated for any oral health issue. How Hormonal Changes Affect Oral Health There are certain phases in the lives of women that can have an impact on their overall health, including oral health. These phases are puberty, pregnancy, PMS, and menopause. During such phases, women experience huge fluctuations in the production of hormones (progesterone and oestrogen) in their bodies. This can lead to symptoms of gum disease, such as swollen Gum disease and the associated inflammation are known to cause stroke, heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. So, it is better to be aware of the possibility of having a dental issue while using birth control and consult a dentist, say a Northcote dentist on High Street. This, however, begs the question: how are birth control and oral health connected? Let us find out in the below-mentioned segment. The Hormone Connection Between Birth Control and Oral Health Even though birth control and oral health may not be directly connected, there are a few ways they can influence each other. Hormonal changes: Many birth control methods, such as oral contraceptives, contain hormones that can impact the body in various ways, including oral health. As discussed earlier, some women may suffer from gingivitis, or gum inflammation, when they menstruate. Thus, there is a higher risk of women developing gum disease when they use hormonal birth control methods. If you happen to be one such woman, it is best to consult an experienced dentist, say a Northcote dentist, to address the problem of gum disease as early as possible. Dry mouth: One of the side effects of taking an oral contraceptive is dry mouth. And dry mouth can aggravate the problems of dental decay and gum disease. This is because the presence of saliva helps neutralise acid in the mouth and protect teeth from harmful bacteria. In case you experience dry mouth after using birth control methods, you should consult a dentist, say at the Northcote dental clinic, on how to manage the situation. Poor Nutrition: Some women may experience a deficiency in vitamin D and calcium after using certain forms of birth control measures. Since both calcium and vitamin D are responsible for maintaining healthy teeth and bones, their deficiency can increase your chances of contracting gum disease, tooth decay, and other health issues. Poor Immune Response: The use of hormonal birth control can affect the body’s immune response, thereby making it much more difficult to fight infections of the oral cavity. or bleeding gums.

3. The good news is that not all oral contraceptives have higher levels of progesterone and oestrogen, especially the new ones. As a result, women need not suffer terrible side effects if they take these contraceptives. However, if someone has gingivitis (the early form of gum disease), they would be at a higher risk of the disease progressing if they use contraceptives based on hormones. It is, therefore, advisable to consult a dentist, say the Northcote dentist, when deciding to use birth control measures. In addition to the above-mentioned points, there are other causative factors as well. Smoking: If you happen to be one of the women who smokes as well as uses birth control, then there is an increased risk of health issues that you can face. These include blood clotting and having a dry socket after the wisdom tooth is pulled out. This is due to the fact that using birth control measures and smoking can increase the level of certain substances in your blood, leading to the formation of easy blood clots. If not treated, the same can lead to serious health issues, such as heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Women using hormonal birth control measures and smoking need to quit smoking or use non-hormonal forms of birth control, such as copper intrauterine devices and condoms. Medications: It is important for you to share all information with your dentist, say a Northcote dentist, about the type of medications taken. This is because the medications can interact with birth control or lose their potency. Time: The risk of gum disease is directly proportional to the length of time a woman uses birth control. Simply put, the longer the time, the greater the risk involved. Notwithstanding the many measures you, as a woman, can take for birth control, there is no alternative to maintaining good oral care habits. For instance, you can rigorously follow healthy practices such as brushing twice a day, preferably with a fluoride-based toothpaste, flossing once a day, abstaining from smoking, drinking alcohol, or eating sugar in its many forms, and visiting your dentist at least twice a year. Conclusion Birth control measures are big life decisions that women make. However, the same can impact oral health due to the increase in hormone levels. It is, therefore, important to take care of oral health by visiting an experienced dentist while one is using birth control measures. For instance, you can www.northcotefamilydental.com.au to book an appointment. Source: https://northcotewebguru.wixsite.com/mysite/post/how-are- oral-health-and-birth-control-related call (03) 9481 5747 or visit

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