This May Be Why Your Daughter Is Having Gum Pain Once A Month
Posted on: 10 December 2019
When your children come of age, plenty of changes happen all over their bodies. However, you might not think that there would be many changes that would occur around the teeth and gums. That's actually not true, however. If your daughter has reached puberty, she may be experiencing a problem with her gums once a month that's inextricably linked to coming of age. Here's what you need to know about it.
Hormones
The reason why women sometimes have gum pain once a month is due to hormone fluctuations. During a normal menstrual cycle, progesterone and estrogen levels fluctuate. This is the body's way of preparing for a pregnancy and then, if one isn't achieved, returning back to its former state.
Effect
You might think that sex hormones have nothing to do with the gums, but that's actually not true. The hormones released at certain parts of a menstrual cycle, namely just prior to and during a period, can impact tissues all over the body. This is part of the reason why women often complain of body aches during their cycles. However, the gums are susceptible, too.
When hormones shift just the right way, gums can actually bleed as a result. This is because inflammation is up all over the body, and the gums are very sensitive to inflammation. This problem may be worse if your child is brushing their teeth too hard or doesn't floss.
What to Do
There are a few things you can do to ease your child's discomfort during this time.
The first is to encourage them to practice good oral hygiene all year round. Flossing and brushing can help to reduce the effects of gum disease and can help to prevent its symptoms from cropping up even when hormones fluctuate. This is because the baseline level of inflammation will drop, so even if it increases during a period, it may not do so enough to cause any noticeable symptoms.
Secondly, make sure that your child is going to the dentist on a regular basis. When children of either gender are coming of age, it's more important than ever to see the dentist, as this is typically when wisdom teeth start to come in. But your dentist can also play a critical role in maintaining your daughter's gum health and lowering the risk of symptoms.
This may be a difficult subject for you to broach with your daughter, so you can simply stick to the importance of flossing, brushing, and dentist visits. Make an appointment and get your daughter the help she needs so that her gums don't bother her anymore. Contact family dentistry services for more information.
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