Overall, advice given for oral health tends to be the same for both men and women - but this doesn’t mean that oral health isn’t affected by sex! While the basic advice of brushing and flossing twice daily is important for people of all genders, there are some things to look out for if you have a female body. Read on to find out more about women’s oral health!

Period Problems

During menstruation, a woman’s body is flooded with hormones. High levels of progesterone can increase the likelihood of swollen or bleeding gums, swollen salivary glands, and even canker sores! These should clear up naturally as your period passes, but require a bit more caution when brushing in the meantime! During your period, make sure you brush and floss gently so as not to aggravate sore gums.

Pregnancy Scares

Pregnancy affects a woman’s body in many, sometimes dramatic, ways. Pregnant women are more likely to experience periodontal disease and cavities, as well as bleeding and sore gums from soaring hormone levels. These same hormones can even temporarily loosen the muscles and bones that keep your teeth in place! Oral healthcare is an especially important part of prenatal care, so if you are pregnant or planning to be so, make sure to consult your oral health professional to make sure you’re keeping your teeth strong and healthy throughout your gestation period.

The Opposite of Pregnancy Scares

The very medications which keep us from getting pregnant, oral contraceptives, can also have negative effects on your oral and dental health. Because these work by changing your internal hormone levels, women who regularly take oral contraceptives are at a higher risk of sensitivity in the gums, plaque buildup, and even reduced blood supply to your gum tissue! If you are taking oral contraceptives, be sure to brush gently and consult with your dentist for tailored advice for your teeth.

Period on Pause

Menopause is a time of huge change in a woman’s body which affects everything, including teeth and gums. During menopause, women are more likely to experience sore teeth and gums, dry mouth, and an alteration is taste sensations. If you are experiencing menopause, make sure to use interdental brushes daily to help to stop plaque from forming, and minimise your sugary food and drink intake to ensure your teeth stay as healthy as possible, for as long as possible! For tips on how to reduce your sugar intake without avoiding all sweets, check out our previous blog!

Remember, Teeth are Bones!

Hormonal changes around menopause can also include the development of osteoporosis, which is a weakening of the bones. Research suggests that this can also affect jaw and tooth health, and cause them to become more brittle. If you are concerned that you might have osteoporosis, make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible to get advice on how best to manage your bone health.

Tooth discolouration comes in various shades, but whether your teeth have yellowed or stained brown, they’re not as white as they once were - so what can you do about it? The first important thing to do when you notice that your teeth have discoloured is to find the root cause, which will then help you to find the right solution for your needs. Read on to find out about different factors that can cause tooth staining and discolouration, and what steps you can take to get your teeth back to sparkling white!

The Causes

External Factors

Some of the things which can discolour our teeth are under our control while others aren’t. Many of the things we eat and drink unfortunately have staining effects on our teeth, and these include daily habits such as tea, coffee, tobacco, wine, and even potatoes! Medications, too, can have an effect, such as antihistamines or blood pressure medications - it may not be possible to stop taking these, but they might still cause staining as a side effect! Natural high levels of fluoride in your local water supply can also discolour your teeth. Another external factor which may not occur to us is our daily brushing routine! Brushing and flossing are essential for keeping your teeth clean from the acids and sugars that break down the enamel on the surface of our teeth and for keeping plaque from forming in the spaces between teeth.

Intrinsic Factors

Not everything that causes staining and discolouration comes from outside causes. Some discolouration of the teeth may occur due to genetics, diseases, or even the natural passing of time! If you have naturally thinner or duller enamel due to genetics, there may be different routes for you to take to achieve whiter teeth. To get a better understanding of any intrinsic factors that may be affecting your tooth colour or health, make an appointment with your dental professional for a consultation.

The Solutions

Maintain a Consistent Routine

This simple step can make a huge difference in your overall dental health and aesthetic. Make sure you’re brushing and flossing twice a day using a good quality toothbrush, ensuring that you change your head when the bristles start to splay. Maintaining your quotidian oral hygiene routine can dramatically reduce your chances of staining and discolouration!

Consider Whitening

With more and more safe and effective tooth whitening treatments on the market, a sparkling, white smile is now more accessible than ever! But is it right for you? As with any procedure or treatment, though it may be safe, it’s still important to make sure you know exactly what you’re in for before taking the plunge. Read on to find out what important things there are to consider before applying whitening treatments to your teeth, whether at home or in-office with your dental health professional!

Stay Safe, Stay Smart

Whether you choose to have your teeth whitened at home with a kit or in-office by a dental professional, be sure to book yourself a consultation with your dental professional to discuss what’s right for you! The better informed you are, the happier you will be with the results - setting high expectations without a proper understanding of the process can lead to disappointment, so you’re always best off doing your research and finding what will work best for your teeth. Sonisk Smile offers an affordable, professional teeth whitening service established by World’s Top 100 Doctors in Dentistry.

Take Time

Whatever the current shade of your teeth, whitening takes time. Depending on whether you decide to DIY your whitening or have it done professionally, results can take anywhere between two to six weeks to be noticeable - either way, it’s never going to be immediate! And since it’s not possible to go from yellow today to sparkling white tomorrow, take the time you need to do your research and decide which route is best for you! As with almost anything, it’s better done slowly and right than hastily and badly.

Relative Shade

Remember that true perfection doesn’t exist - and that this is true for tooth whitening, too! The very best professional whitening will only ever take you to the whitest that your individual teeth are able to go. Avoid disappointment by consulting with a dental professional to gauge what shade you can realistically achieve.

The Hard Work Comes Later

Whitening your teeth is not a one-off permanent solution, no matter how you go about it. Although the whitening process does a bulk of the work for you, the maintenance after treatment is the most important thing to ensure that you keep your pearlies white - and this is entirely up to you! Make sure you commit to follow all advice on aftercare to the letter to keep your teeth white for as long as possible between treatments.

To Whiten or Not to Whiten

Remember that what you choose now doesn’t have to be set in stone forever - if you have done your research and decided to take the plunge with whitening, go for it! If you’re still unsure or think it might be something to do down the road, you can still take steps to ensure your teeth stay as white as possible for now! Whatever you choose, remember to maintain a consistent routine of brushing with a good quality toothbrush and flossing twice a day!