The effects of hormonal changes on your dental health - by Absolute Dental

In the week that saw the safe arrival of Maisie Sapphire (congratulations to our wonderful dental nurse Kelly and her husband Rod), it seemed appropriate that our 3rd blog in the Oral Health Month series call "The Four P's" should be about Pregnancy and other hormonal changes, and their effect on our dental health.

Hormonal changes such as Pregnancy, Menopause & HRT can have a huge effect on overall oral health. Every woman will go through at least one of these hormonal changes and it is therefore very important that a woman is aware of the effects they can have on her oral health so she can adapt her oral hygiene routine to prevent conditions such as periodontal disease & caries.


Research shows that gingivitis occurs in 75% of all pregnant women.

It occurs due to hormonal and circulation changes. Pregnancy often changes the body’s inflammatory response to plaque and other irritants, which lead to an increased chance of gingivitis. Changes in the gum health are normally most noticeable from the second month of pregnancy, reaching a maximum change in the eighth month stage of pregnancy, and are more common in front teeth than back teeth.

Although gum changes are the most common changes with pregnancy, there are a number of other less common changes that women may deal with:

• Hormonal changes can cause some women to produce either too much saliva or too little.

• Studies show that pregnant women are at higher risk of caries. Although hormones do not contribute directly to cavities, they do cause an increase in appetite and tend to snack more which leads to an increased chance of cavities.

• Morning sickness & repeated vomiting can cause acid erosion.

Menopausal changes can cause discomfort in the mouth, burning sensations, a change in taste and dryness. Dryness particularly can create a huge problem making the chance of cavities greater due to the lack of saliva neutralising the plaque. However 30% to 50% have no changes during this 5 to 10 year stage period of menopause.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) also causes a hormonal imbalance & can have an effect on the body’s inflammatory response. This means that the gums can be more sensitive and prone to inflaming if plaque removal is poor.

Therefore thorough, effective oral hygiene is a BIG must during these situations to maintain healthy teeth and gums!

Palpitations, Pacemakers & Protection at Absolute Dental

When patients come to Absolute Dental we want to provide the best care possible and this involves us finding out about general health at present and also any past medical conditions. We know that certain medical conditions, pills, potions and lotions can affect the mouth but also we need to protect our patients whilst they are under our care.


One aspect of our general health which we need to know about are any heart conditions and also if there is an artificial pacemaker fitted.

What is a pacemaker and what does it do?

An artificial pacemaker is a medical device which maintains an adequate heartbeat by delivering electrical impulses to the heart. They are indicated when the natural impulses are absent or too slow. Some of the more recent types are controlled externally and some even include an inbuilt defibrillator.

There are currently over 500,000 people in the UK fitted with them and may be fitted to patients who experience symptoms of heart failure and a common use is for cardiac arrhythmia ( irregular heartbeat)

Patients who are fitted with a pacemaker should have a Pacemaker Identification card which should list the doctor, hospital, date and type of pacemaker fitted. This helps us to provide safe treatment and a safe environment to deliver this in.

Why should we be informed if you have an artificial pacemaker?

Certain types of treatment and equipment in a dental practice can affect the pacemaker due to their electromagnetic interference. Included in this are ultrasonic scalers and baths, even some head rests for dental chairs which are held in place by powerful magnets.

The problems created by this could include some of the following:

1. Inhibition of pacing - stimulus not provided when needed

2. Asychronous pacing - pacing occurs at a fixed rate regardless of the heart's need for therapy

3. Inappropriate stimuli - shock therapy provided when not needed.

How do we protect you at Absolute Dental?

The want to ensure that you get the best care possible and so we will always ask you about your general health at each visit and once a year will ask you to complete a written medical update for us. This is part of our best practice policy and adheres to guidelines established by our governing body, the General Dental Council, to help protect patients.

We may need your consent to contact your doctor to find out which type of pacemaker you have, as this then gives us the most up to date information if further treatment is to be carried out.

For patients who may require plaque removal by our hygienists, we have sonic scalers which work differently to ultrasonic scalers and may be used on some patients with pacemakers. We can also use hand instruments on all patients which also reduces the risk and provides peace of mind if a patient is unsure of which type of pacemaker is fitted.

We conform to the latest cross infection guidelines and do not use ultrasonic baths in the practice at all.

We find out about the latest policies about your health through continuing professional development and hope this explains why we ask about your general health, providing you with the best care possible at Absolute Dental.

Week One of Oral Health Month 2012 with Absolute Dental

September 2012 is Oral Health Month where we encourage out patients to "Love Your Mouth - it's good for your health".

Research shows that some illnesses, medical conditions, medications and lifestyle habits can have an adverse affect on your oral health. With this in mind, here at Absolute Dental, we have decided to write our blogs in September with this in mind - calling the series "The Four P's". Here is the first blog for September, written by our newest team member, dental nurse Caroline.

Pills, Potions & Poisons

Oral health is not only important to your appearance and sense of well being, but also to your overall health.


Smoking is a major risk factor for oral and dental disease, including oral cancer. Tobacco smoke is very harmful to gum tissues and other tissues in your mouth. Toxins in smoke can cause oral cancer and also damage the bone around your teeth, a major cause of tooth loss. In fact, smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for gum disease and perhaps the biggest risk factor for oral cancer.

How Does Smoking Lead to Gum Disease?

Smoking and other tobacco products can lead to gum disease by affecting the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. More specifically, it appears that smoking interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells. This interference makes smokers more susceptible to infections, such as periodontal disease, and also seems to impair blood flow to the gums - which may affect wound healing.

Medications can cause tooth damage and can affect gums

Many drugs, both prescription and illegal, can cause tooth damage. Estimates suggest that about 40 per cent of people take at least one type of medicine that could damage their teeth. They can cause gum problems such as inflammation, bleeding or ulceration. Diseased gums can lead to other dental problems including tooth loss.

Excessive fluoride can damage children's teeth. Antihistamines, aspirin, asthma medications and syrups may cause tooth damage. Illegal drugs including cocaine, crack, ecstasy, heroin and methamphetamine can damage teeth.

When you come to Absolute Dental, we will often ask you to complete a confidential medical update. Here we ask you to list any pills, potions or lotions that you might be taking - not only does this ensure we keep you safe whilst you are with us, but it also helps us to build a complete picture of your dental health, and the ways in which we can help you to keep your teeth and gums healthy.