Why hormones can cause sore gums and what to do about it

You buy a new toothbrush. In the morning you go to brush your teeth, spit out the toothpaste - and there is blood. The first thought is usually very simple: "I probably bought a brush that is too hard" or "I pressed too hard". You take another brush, but the story repeats itself. Your gums turn red, swell a little and react to any touch.

You go to the dentist, already thinking that you have some kind of terrible periodontitis and your teeth will soon fall out. And after the examination, the doctor suddenly asks: "Are you pregnant?" or "What’s wrong with your hormones now?".

It would seem that teeth have nothing to do with hormones. But the connection is direct and very strong. Our oral cavity is not a separate detail. The gums and mucous membrane are densely permeated with blood vessels, and they are the first to react to any changes inside the body. Therefore, sometimes the cause of bleeding should be sought not in toothpaste, but in the endocrine system.

Why do gums suddenly become sensitive

Every person has bacteria in their mouth. This is absolutely normal. They form plaque on their teeth. If you brush your teeth regularly, your immune system easily keeps these bacteria under control and does not react to them in any way.

But when hormones start to fluctuate (especially estrogen and progesterone), blood circulation in the gums changes. The tissues become loose and very sensitive. And now, to the same tiny amount of bacteria that your body didn’t even notice before, it reacts very violently. Inflammation is triggered.

That is, you brush your teeth just as well as you did a month ago, your hygiene hasn’t gotten any worse, but your gums still bleed. It’s just that your body’s reaction has changed.

Pregnancy and teeth

Most often, women encounter this during pregnancy. The second and third trimesters are a period when progesterone levels simply go off scale. The gums can swell so much that it becomes painful to eat something solid.

Many people make a big mistake at this moment. A woman sees blood on her toothbrush, gets scared and stops brushing her teeth normally so as not to "make things worse." But the opposite happens. If you don’t clean the plaque, the bacteria will grow and the inflammation will only grow.

Here you just need to take a very soft brush and continue to clean. Gently, without strong pressure, but thoroughly. And be sure to go to the doctor for a preventive cleaning. This is a standard, safe and very necessary procedure during this period. You can simply view prices on the site to get an idea of the cost, but don’t put off this visit. Removing tartar in the office often solves the problem of bleeding in a couple of days.

Teenagers and gums

Teenagers have a similar story. During puberty, hormones jump just as much. But there is another important nuance that makes the situation worse.

Teenagers often eat a lot of sweets, snack on snacks or buns on the go, and brush their teeth very quickly and carelessly (and sometimes they simply forget to do it in the evening). It turns out a double blow: a hormonal surge makes the gums vulnerable, and poor hygiene gives bacteria a lot of food. Therefore, if your child complains of sore gums or you see that they have become red, it is not just "age-related, it will grow out of it." You need to go to the doctor and teach your child to floss.

What happens after childbirth

When a child is born, hormone levels drop sharply. But here another problem comes to the fore. Lack of sleep, chronic fatigue and stress.

A woman may simply not have the physical strength to brush her teeth before going to bed, because she falls asleep standing up. Eating becomes irregular. This is where the myths come from that "the baby took all her teeth during pregnancy". In fact, teeth most often decay after childbirth, simply due to the lack of normal care and lack of time for herself.

Menopause and dry mouth

Closer to menopause, the estrogen level in women drops. The mucous membrane of the mouth becomes thinner and more vulnerable. But the most unpleasant thing is that the amount of saliva often decreases.

Saliva is our main natural defense. It washes away food debris and prevents bacteria from destroying enamel. When the mouth becomes dry, a burning sensation appears on the tongue, and the taste of familiar food may even change slightly. And the worst thing is that without saliva, plaque quickly hardens and becomes stone. Teeth without proper hydration deteriorate much faster.

Therefore, if you feel constantly dry, you need to drink more plain clean water. And you should go for checkups more often, because the risk of caries increases during this period.

Does this mean that your teeth will definitely deteriorate?

No. Hormones themselves do not destroy your teeth. They do not make holes in the enamel or loosen the roots. They simply create conditions under which your gums and mucous membranes become more vulnerable.

Don’t panic. If you see that your gums have become red, slightly swollen, or bleeding, the main thing is not to stop brushing your teeth.

What you really need to do:

1. Replace your regular toothbrush with a very soft one (look for the Soft or Ultra Soft label).
2. Start using interdental brushes or floss. A regular brush does not clean plaque between your teeth at all, and inflammation often begins there.
3. Drink enough water so that your mouth does not dry out.
4. Don’t expect everything to go away on its own.

If your gums are not just bleeding a little while brushing, but are really sore, moving away from the tooth, or you have a persistent bad breath, this is a reason to make an appointment with a clinic. Such inflammations rarely go away on their own. The doctor will simply take a look, remove the stone hiding under the gums, and recommend a paste. It’s a quick procedure that will save you a lot of nerves and money in the future.