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Women's Dental Care FAQs

Q. Why is it important that women be concerned with their oral health?

A. For many women, oral health changes throughout the different stages of their life, due to surges in sex hormone levels. The dentist may request to see the patient more frequently during hormonal surges.

Q. Gum disease tends to run in my family. What's the best way to prevent and treat it?

A. To prevent periodontal disease, dentists recommend the basics to all their patients: Brush at least twice a day, and floss once a day to remove plaque. Most people should see a dentist twice a year. Because of family history, some women may need to brush and see their dentist more often. There are also new medications that help fight gum disease. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved an oral drug, Periostat, which may improve tooth attachment and stop tissue destruction. Two other new products, Atridox (an antibiotic) and PerioChip (an antibacterial), are applied to the gums by your dentist. These medications are to be used in conjunction with traditional gum disease treatments, such as scaling and root planing.

Q. What problems occur for girls during puberty?

A. The surge in hormones that occurs during puberty may cause swollen gums, especially during menstruation. Herpes-type lesions and ulcers also can develop. They also may experience sensitive gums that react more to irritants.

Q. What gum problems may occur during menstruation?

A. Women may experience red, swollen, tender gums (gingivitis) a few days prior to their menstrual period because of increased levels of progesterone in their bodies. These changes occur because of an exaggerated gingival (gum) response to bacterial plaque and generally resolve toward the end of the menstrual period or shortly thereafter. To combat these symptoms, a dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings, fastidious home care, and possibly an anti-microbial mouth rinse or special toothpaste.

Q. Can women develop cold sores related to the menstruation cycle?

A. Yes, a few days before menstruation begins, some women may experience an activation of cold sores (herpes labialis). These sores occur on the lips and usually heal by themselves within 10 to 14 days. A dentist and/or physician may prescribe a topical medication for treatment.

Learn Everything You Need To Know About Tooth Root Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity to cold and/or sweets may be a sign of a cavity, but it may also be caused by root sensitivity. Teeth are made up of a very hard substance called enamel, which protects the nerve inside the tooth from the stimuli your teeth experience, such as hot, cold, sweets, and chewing.

The surface of the root of the tooth is covered by a material called cementum that is not as strong as enamel, but is protected by the overlying gum tissue. Tooth sensitivity basically occurs when something happens to cause the gum tissue to recede, leaving the sensitive cementum exposed.

Causes

One of the most common factors of gum recession is due to the toothbrush. The process is caused by brushing too hard or by using a hard bristled toothbrush, thereby causing the gums to recede. The use of a soft toothbrush with proper technique can help prevent this recession.

Chemical erosion is another cause of root sensitivity. This can occur in people who drink an excessive amount of carbonated beverages or suck on highly acidic foods, such as lemons or limes. The acids in these products can actually eat away the protective enamel coating of the teeth right along the gum line, leading to sensitivity.

This same type of tooth sensitivity may also occur after any dental treatment that affects the position of the gum tissue on the tooth. Some examples would be gum surgeries that expose more tooth structure or the extraction of teeth, which may cause shrinkage of the gum tissue in the area adjacent to other teeth.

Treatment of Root Sensitivity

The most critical aspect in treating root sensitivity is accurately diagnosing and treating the cause with your dentist. If the cause is not known and corrected, the problem will continue to recur in spite of treatment. Treatment is aimed at coating or sealing the surface of the exposed root to prevent the stimulus (cold, sweets) from transmitting to the nerve of the tooth, causing sensitivity.

There are toothpastes available at most stores that are specifically designed for sensitive teeth. These products decrease the sensitivity over time, although you may find if you stop using them, the sensitivity returns. This may be because the underlying cause has not been treated.

Another option is to have a highly concentrated fluoride gel applied to the sensitive areas at your dentist's office. Your dentist can also seal the area with a thin coating of resin. This is not like a filling, but more like a thin coat of a clear liquid that helps to seal your tooth when it is placed and cured.

Placing restorations (fillings) in the exposed areas will also seal them, but unless the cause of the tooth sensitivity is identified and corrected, the gum may continue to recede past where the filling was placed, causing a new area of root to be exposed below the level of the filling. If the recession is more extreme, a gum graft may be placed, where gum tissue is taken from another part of your mouth and grafted over the exposed area.

By Greggory Kinzer, DDS, MSD