Your Hormone Health: What You May Never Have Considered
by Flora Stay, D.D.S.
May 2008 | Your Health Connection Magazine
As women, when we think about hormonal health, we usually consider issues related to our monthly menstruation, menopause, sexual health, or weight gain. In reality, hormonal imbalance can affect our total well-being. We especially experience the wrath of this imbalance during pre-and postmenopause and during our menstruation cycle (also known to some as the dreaded PMS).
We've all heard about and experienced how our sexuality is affected by our hormone levels, and how it relates to many other physical and emotional factors, but we probably never considered one other important physical factor affecting our sexual mood: gum disease, also known as the silent disease.
This connection is rarely talked about, and might at first seem odd, but it becomes obvious when we learn the science behind how it all works.
OUR MOUTH HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT OUR OVERALL HEALTH
During the different stages of our lives when hormones are fluctuating, from puberty to pregnancy and menopause, many tissues are affected, including our gum tissue. The gums can swell up, bleed easily, and become slightly more red during these times of hormone-related events. Often, when the hormones regulate back to normal, the gums don't always naturally return to their healthy state, but are dependent on our good oral hygiene.
With this state of chronic gum inflammation, our hormones, and even our immune system, can be negatively affected, triggering a cascade of events that lead to compromised overall health.
IMPORTANT LITTLE SIGNS NOT TO BE IGNORED
Chances are we never think the slight bleeding of our gums during pregnancy or premenopause has anything to do with our hormones. We may have even thought a little bleeding when brushing was perfectly normal and never gave it a second thought. Slight bleeding, red gums, and even some swelling, are all signs of inflammation that accompany gum disease.
Most people don't pay any attention to the signs of inflammation in the mouth. It's no wonder a study published in Journal of Periodontology in January of 1999 reported that at least 23 percent of women ages 30 to 54 have severe gum disease (periodontitis), and 44 percent of women ages 55 to 90 who still have their teeth have gum disease. As far as the general public, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reported about 80 percent of adults in the U.S. currently have some form of the disease.
This is surprising in our modern world, and we may wonder how so many people could have gum disease. Truth be known, many people go to the dentist only "when it hurts." If you're one of these individuals, you need a new perspective on oral health, especially if your sex life is not as exciting as it used to be or if you have a hard time managing stress.
QUICK DEFINITION
Even the beginning stages of gum disease, known as gingivitis, can make an impact on our mood and health. If not treated, gingivitis advances and results in chronic inflammation with devastating health results. When our gums are not healthy, a series of chemi-' cal reactions take place locally and systemically. The chemical changes trigger our immune system to take action, with inflammation resulting locally on the gum tissue.
Flora Stay, DDS is the author of Secret Gateway to Health. Dr. Stay had a private practice for over 30 years and is an Associate Professor at USC School of Dentistry. For more information: www.cleure.com or e-mail: flora@cleure.com.