The surge of hormones your body experiences during menstruation has a big effect on your oral health. This increase in hormones results in an increased blood flow to gum tissues and heightened sensitivity of the oral cavity. As a result, your gums are more likely to bleed during this time, and any slight irritation will be felt as pain or serious discomfort.
Knowing this will help you to plan for your oral hygiene and health so that you aren't seriously affected by the hormonal changes. For example, menstruation-related gum changes mean that you should:
Be Extra Keen on Your Oral Hygiene Just Before the Onset of Menstruation
Although it is useful to brush and floss daily, some people do miss these routines once or twice due to different issues. However, you shouldn't miss any of these oral care measures in the days leading up to your menstruation period. This is because you need to enter the period with impeccable oral health so that any hormonal changes do not affect your oral health too much.
Some of the measures to observe during this time include:
- Brushing at least twice a day
- Flossing at least once a day
- Avoiding foods that may stick on your teeth for prolonged periods
Ideally, you should continue with these measures throughout your period. However, the extra attention in the days leading up to the onset of the menstruation may also help to counteract any oral hygiene slacking you may experience during your periods due to sensitive, swollen and bleeding-prone gums.
Schedule Dental Procedures Several Days after Menstruation
The best time to have any dental procedure is when you need it. For example, if you have a damaged tooth that should be extracted, then (under your dentist's advice) you should have it extracted as soon as possible.
However, for procedures that do not require strict scheduling, it is probably best to go to the dentist a few days after your menstruation has stopped. For example, if you need to have your teeth professionally cleaned, then this is the time to do it. Dental cleaning irritates the gums, and you don't want to do this if the gums are swollen and sensitive. Apart from that, the swollen gums may also make your dentist think that you have gum disease due to the increased depth of the pockets around each tooth.
It is always best to make major dental decisions with the consultation of your dentist at a place like Family First Dentistry LLC. He or she will know the difference between a dental emergency that needs to be handled promptly, and what can wait until you are ready for the treatment.