Can oral surgery affect your period

No one looks forward to that time of the month. Period. The pain is what makes these monthly monsters so miserable. But in addition to cramps and cravings, your menstrual cycle affects your mouth, too. Here are some symptoms to watch out for:

Table of Contents Show

Bad Breath
Swollen Gums
28 Apr Cycle days to head to the dentist
Does tooth extraction affect menstrual cycle?
Can surgery interrupt your period?

Bad Breath

Any change in hormones can cause an imbalance in your oral health ecosystem, leading to bad breath. Try an alcohol-free mouthwash to omit the odor.

Swollen Gums

Pre-period symptoms can bloat more than just your belly. Hormones accelerate estrogen and progesterone production, so expect red, tender and swollen gums. Referred to as menstruation gingivitis, symptoms should calm down once your period begins. Though cravings convince you otherwise, forego fries and chocolate malts for foods low in carbs and sugar. Sugar can irritate inflammation in your gums, breasts and belly.

Bleeding

Inflamed gums mean an increase in blood flow and changes in how gum tissue reacts to plaque. As a result, you may notice small amounts of blood after you brush or floss. Continue your normal dental routine, but be extra gentle.

If any of these symptoms stick around post-period, talk to your dentist. No matter what kind of cycle you experience every month, remember to stay on top of your overall health and your oral health routine.

The way in which periods may affect your teeth and gums are quite varied.

You could find that about three to four days out from the start of your period that you experience increased soreness in your mouth, with your gums swelling and becoming more prone to bleeding. This is caused by increased amounts of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone in your body and an accompanying build-up of plaque.

Or you could develop a temporary form of gingivitis, which is characterised by redness and swelling of the gums and sores that appear on your tongue and inside cheeks. Fortunately, it usually disappears once your period starts.

On the other hand, you may find you experience little to no ill-effects at all.

However your mouth reacts to your period, the best advice is to keep brushing and flossing as normal. If you experience increased sensitivity or soreness, and are tempted to pull back from your usual oral health routine as a result, see your dentist who can suggest the best way to handle brushing and flossing during these hormonal fluctuations.

While you can undergo dental treatments at any time, there is an emerging school of thought that says certain dental treatments are best carried out at particular times of your period. For instance, the increased gum puffiness and inflammation of your gums means that a professional cleaning by your dentist will be most comfortable about a week after your period ends. Similarly, you might find that the days right after your period is the least sensitive time for you to get a filling or have a tooth extracted.

If you’re on oral contraceptives (“the pill”), which contain progesterone, you may find that the increased levels of the hormone in your body trigger the same kind of gingivitis often seen in pregnant women. Known as “pregnancy gingivitis”, it’s marked by swelling and redness, caused by increased blood flow to the gums. It will be pronounced in the first few months after you go on “the pill” and if it worsens, it’s a good idea to look at an alternative. Always make sure you tell your dentist when you’re using contraceptives.

28 Apr Cycle days to head to the dentist

Dread dental pain? I sure do. Over the past two years, I’ve had two failed dental surgeries and a subsequent tooth extraction because of a (very much now former) dentist smashing the root of my tooth to smithereens while installing a new crown (thanks, dude). Now I’m facing the absolute joy of getting a dental implant, which involves more slicing, dicing and drilling. PS: Did I mention it’s my front tooth? Yup, fun times.

Anyway, thanks to research examining the intensity of dental procedure pain throughout the menstrual cycle (including this and this), I know which week of my cycle is best to have surgeries, extractions and implants. And, I’m bringing this up now because a new study in the Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics supports previous findings that point to a specific time in our cycle when dental procedure discomfort is lowest.

So, I’m here to tell you that based on these studies (and plenty of recent personal experience), the best time of your monthly cycle to have a dental procedure is your Week 2–the week right after your period, which is the one leading up to and including ovulation.

On these days, high estrogen blunts your perception of pain. Plus, you tend to be less anxious and more confident than you are in your premenstrual week and the first few days of your cycle when estrogen is low, which also keeps a lid on intense discomfort.

Now, just to be clear, this high hormone isn’t going to make your dental surgery, extraction or other procedure totally pain-free. You’ll still be cursing your dentists, endodontists, orthodontists and periodontists the moment you leave their offices, wishing many violent and ugly things to happen to them for the misdeeds that just transpired in your mouth. However, compared to the pain you’d experience on other days in your cycle, you’ll actually feel just a bit less hatred in your heart for them.

Something key to keep in mind: Many women feel more anxiety during their Week 2 due to high estrogen. If this is the case with you, then try to schedule your procedure in the days right after your period ends, but before estrogen climbs super-high–for instance, your Day 5, 6, 7 or 8.

If that’s not possible or you simply need added anti-anxiety therapy, then bring your iPod with you and play your favorite tunes. Research shows that listening to music during dental procedures reduces anxiety and, subsequently, pain. I do this myself and even made my own dental procedure mix–which includes lots of Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine and other expletive-ridden angry tunes that match my “I can’t believe I’m in this stupid dental chair again” irritated mood, which actually helps. But, that’s just me. You might prefer calmer, more genteel music, so experiment till you find what works best for you.

About
Latest Posts

I'm the women's health journalist who pioneered the cycle-syncing and hormone awareness movement in 2005 with my groundbreaking, award-winning book, 28 Days: What Your Cycle Reveals About Your Moods, Health & Potential. I'm also the creator of the popular Hormone Horoscope Apps and Female Forecaster App. I founded Hormonology as a way to continue sharing hormone cycle education around the globe.

Does tooth extraction affect menstrual cycle?

Menstrual women. In principle, women should avoid tooth extraction during menstruation, because compensatory bleeding may occur in the alveolar during menstruation.

Can surgery interrupt your period?

There are surgeries that can stop your period forever or greatly reduce the blood flow during your period. One such surgery is removing the uterus completely, also known as a partial hysterectomy. A newer surgery is an endometrial ablation where the lining of the uterus is destroyed or damaged.