Reproductive and oral tissue have similar characteristics and hormone receptors. One example is relaxin, the hormone that prepares the body for childbirth by relaxing ligaments. The ligaments that surround the teeth in the jawbone also have relaxin receptors. These physiological characteristics specific to women require a unique approach in comparison to men’s oral health. Women go through vast hormonal fluctuations throughout their life, such as puberty, birth control, pregnancy, in vitro fertilization, postpartum and menopause.

Birth control, for example, has a tremendous impact on oral health, especially types that are higher in estrogen and progesterone. It is linked to increased periodontal inflammation, exaggerated reactions from plaque due to the hormone increases and a decrease in natural hormones that impacts the health of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). 

Due to these hormonal transitions, an approach with a higher emphasis on prevention is key. Often, women taking birth control or in a transition period come to the dental office for more frequent care.