The Weird Thing That Can Happen to Your Teeth Before Your Period

By Alison Mango Every few weeks, I get some uncomfortable sensations in my mouth. My teeth feel achy and loose. My gums are swollen and sensitive. And I have a desire to brush my teeth every couple of hours. These symptoms go away after a few days, but until then nothing seems to help. The last time this happened, I finally consulted Dr. Google and came upon a condition called menstruation gingivitis--an inflammation of the gums that typically begins just before a woman's period and goes away once her period starts. The symptoms matched mine, and after glancing at the calendar, I realized the timing made perfect sense. Mystery solved! RELATED: Your Guide to Healthy, White Teeth In search of more info, I called ob-gyn Mary Rosser, MD, PhD, at Montefiore Health System in New York City, who explained that women are more susceptible to gingivitis thanks to natural fluctuations in our hormone levels. "A surge in the female hormones estrogen and progesterone causes an increase in blood flow to the gums, and a decrease in the way that we can fight off plaque and other toxins," says Dr. Rosser. Plaque build-up irritates the gums, which become tender, swollen, and red, and some women see blood while they're flossing or brushing their teeth. They may also develop sores on the insides of their cheeks. These symptoms tend to strike before menstruation and during pregnancy. RELATED: 20 Things That Can Ruin Your Smile There are a few other times in a woman's life when she might de...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news