Caring for oral health is similar for both men and women. However, a woman’s oral health can be affected by hormonal changes throughout her lifetime, especially during pregnancy. Understanding these changes can help you or a woman in your life get the proper preventive dental care to avoid serious oral health issues. Know the steps to take for women to keep their smile healthy. Hormones Blood flow to gum tissues is increased by female hormones which raises the gum sensitivity to plaque and bacteria. This can cause gums to swell or bleed. While hormonal changes do not cause gum disease, they can worsen oral health issues leading to inflammation, cold sores, dry mouth and changes in taste. These changes often occur as the body produces more of the estrogen hormone at certain points in a women’s menstrual cycle. Oral health is also affected by oral contraceptives. An example is dry […]