A WOMAN’S NEEDS
A woman’s body undergoes changes during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. The hormonal changes that occur at these stages may affect the gums and increase the woman’s risk to periodontal (gum) disease.
WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE?
Periodontal disease or gum disease is caused by bacteria and toxins (poisons) found in dental plaque. Dental plaque is the sticky, colourless layer that forms on teeth constantly. The bacteria and toxins cause the gums to swell slightly, turn red and bleed easily. Depending on where this occurs, you may not be able to detect this. This stage is known as gingivitis. There is little or no pain. The most common complaint at this time is “My gums bleed when I brush my teeth”.
As the disease continues, the bacteria and toxins then invade the gums and destroy the bone supporting the teeth. The teeth become loose and may be lost. This stage is periodontitis. Most of this time, pain occurs at the later stages of the disease.
If you don’t know the state of your periodontal (gum) health, ask at your next dental visit. Hormonal changes can be a contributing factor in increasing your chances of getting gum disease or make an existing gum problem worse.
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| Healthy gums |
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| Gum disease (Periodontitis) |
PUBERTY AND MENSTRUATION
During puberty, there is an increased level of hormones such as progesterone and oestrogen. These hormones may cause an increase in the gums’ sensitivity and lead to a greater reaction to food particles and plaque present. The gums become swollen turn red and may feel painful to the touch.
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| Gum swellings between teeth |
Some women experience similar symptoms 3 to 4 days prior to their period. Others may experience menstruation gingivitis which is characterized by bleeding gums, a bright red swelling of the gums between teeth and sores or ulcers in the mouth. This usually clears up once her period starts.
It’s important to keep good oral hygiene during these hormonal changes so that the bone and gums surrounding the teeth are not affected.
PREGNANCY
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| Pregnancy epuli |
Women can experience pregnancy gingivitis beginning in the second or third month. It may increase in severity throughout the pregnancy. The gums become swollen, red, may be painful and may bleed. In some cases, the gums react strongly to food particles and plaque to form swellings, the swellings are called pregnancy epuli and are usually painless. Some of them disappear after pregnancy but some remain and may require removal by a dentist.
The best way to avoid these gum problems during pregnancy is to begin with healthy gums. If you are thinking of getting pregnant, visit your dentist for a dental check-up. Ask your dentist to check on the condition of your gums and how well you are brushing your teeth.
If you are pregnant, you need to know that your oral health can affect the health of your baby.
Early reports show that infection during pregnancy, including periodontal (gum) infection, may pose a risk for delivering a premature, low birth weight baby. Include dental health check-ups in your prenatal care. Preventive dental care will go a long way in ensuring a trouble-free dental status during your pregnancy.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES
If you are taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills or hormonal supplements), you may also be prone to similar gum conditions experienced by pregnant women. This is because the synthetic hormones in these pills copy the hormones in pregnancy. You will also need to know that certain antibiotics can interact with the oral contraceptives and lesson their effectiveness. As such, it is important to mention all medications that you are taking to your medical and dental care providers.
MENOPAUSE
Menopausal or post-menopausal women may experience discomfort on the mouth including pain and burning sensations in the gums tissue, altered taste and dry mouth. Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) may relieve these symptoms but a consultation with a doctor is always required assess the risk and benefits of each woman first. “Saliva substitutes ” are available in the form of rinses and gels to lessen the effects of a dry mouth and burning sensation if necessary.
CONCLUSION
Each phase of a woman’s life brings with it many changes. Your oral health at these times are important to your overall health and well-being. Careful attention to home dental care and regular professional check-ups will ensure healthy gums and teeth for a lifetime.
身为糖尿病患者，你对感染疾病的免疫反应有所下降。如果你的糖尿病未能得到很好的控制，你就有可能患上牙周疾病，同时你也患有牙周脓肿的可能。牙周脓肿是围绕特定牙龈组织的肿大。这些牙龈组织感染、发炎，并常伴有疼痛。牙周疾病的存在也可能影响身体对胰岛素的运用。这就导致了你的糖尿病更难以控制，而你的牙周疾病也就变得比非糖尿病病人更为严重。
除了更易患有牙周疾病外，你可能还会发现以下病状：
牙周疾病最近被认为是第六个糖尿病的主要并发症。糖尿病病患牙周疾病的比率更高，病情更重，病程更快。
As a diabetic, you have a poorer immune response to infection. If your
diabetes is not well-controlled, you are more likely to have periodontal disease.
You may also develop abscesses (gum boils). Abscesses are swellings of the gums
that have become infected and are often painful. The presence of periodontal
disease may also affect your body’s ability to process and use insulin. This
may cause your diabetes to be more difficult to control, resulting in your periodontal
disease becoming more severe than a non-diabetic.
As a smoker, you are more likely than non-smokers to have the following problems:-
烟草燃烧的热和积聚的产物是局部性刺激剂，使牙龈角化增加和牙面出现棕色柏油样沉积物，促进牙菌斑和牙石量增多，易诱发或加重牙周疾病。此外，吸烟可以使口腔粘膜形成白斑，长期含着烟在上，下唇间，会使口腔的灰白斑继续受高温的刺激，而出现皲裂和溃疡。经久不愈的溃疡，也是致癌的因素之一。
专家建议，吸烟对人体有百害而无一利，应立即戒烟或尽量少抽直到彻底戒掉。此外，一般情况下，正常人每半年或一年洗一次牙即可，对于吸烟者，最好三个月左右洗一次。定期洗牙，不仅清洁了牙齿，而且牙医在洗牙的同时又为洗牙者检查了一次牙齿，也便于及时发现问题及时治疗。
