Women’s Health Week 2021 brings another opportunity to look at our health with fresh eyes. As we have seen with the SARS-COV-2 worldwide pandemic, our total health depends on several factors. Too often, we overlook oral health when we think about staying healthy. From the simple ability of chewing healthy foods in order to maintain optimal nutrition, to the more complex effects of the oral microbiome on systemic diseases throughout the body, your mouth is one of the first keys to balancing total health.

We asked a few LANAP clinicians to weigh in on what women need to know about oral health during Women’s Health Week. 

Women have unique oral health concerns. They are going through changing hormone levels during their life: menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. These changes affect tissue throughout the body and female oral health (especially gum health) may be impacted by these changes.  Some studies have suggested that pregnant women who have periodontal disease may be more likely to have pre-term births or small babies. Literature strongly supports an association between periodontal disease and female infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, periodontal disease is linked to osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease (CVD), autoimmunity, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain cancers.  – Elena Furman, DMD, MSD, Periodontics & Implantology.

A women’s periodontal health may be impacted by a variety of factors, from puberty to menstruation, and through pregnancy. Increased level of sex hormones can increase gums’ sensitivity, which leads to greater reaction to irritation, etc. –George Manthas, DDS, New Century Smile

Gum disease is a SILENT KILLER! Gum disease is silent – meaning it is just like diabetes or high blood pressure where you don’t really feel any symptoms…until it is way too late. At that point in time, irreversible damage is done and you will need serious help.  As a special message during Women’s Health Week, I want you to know that gum disease increases your risk for low birth weight, pre-term birth, stroke, heart disease, pancreatic cancer, dementia, high blood pressure, and diabetes.  The mouth talks to the body and the body talks to the mouth. So, don’t wait until something serious happens. Get screened for gum disease and if needed, get treatment and save your teeth…. You just might save your life! – Jeff Lowe, DDS, Lifetime Dental Care