WOMEN AND GUM (PERIODONTAL) DISEASE: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Periodontal (gum) disease is a serious infection of the supporting tissues of the teeth (gingiva, connective tissue and bone) caused by plaque bacteria. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in the world. Women already are faced with periods of special health needs during their lives due to both physiologic and non-physiologic hormonal variations. During puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, changes in the production of female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) are often reflected in the periodontal tissues (the gums and supporting bone) as increased gingival inflammation and periodontal disease, In addition, presence of untreated periodontal disease during these periods of hormonal variation can have important consequences systematically and expectant mothers.