[Female hormones and oral health]

A common oral manifestation of elevated levels of the ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone, as seen in pregnancy or oral contraceptive usage, is an increase in gingival inflammation. Estrogen and progesterone probably induce a physiologic vascular phenomenon with swelling and redness. Furthermore, these hormones alter the microenvironment of the oral bacteria so as to promote their growth and cause shifts in their populations. The resulting gingivitis can be avoided or at least minimized by establishing low plaque levels at the beginning of pregnancy or at the start of oral contraceptive therapy.