bleeding gums and HRT

[jonjon]

I never would have put the two together either... but somethings made me think.

I'm embarrassed to be discussing this with anyone, because it makes me feel unhygenic. But from as far back as I can remember, i have suffered with bleeding gums when i clean my teeth. They would just bleed everywhere and it would fill the sink when i spat my toothpaste out. I never had it seen to because i am petrified of dentists. So i just left it.

I am into my 5 months on Testogel and suddenly my gums have stopped bleeding. I have done nothing different to the way i clean my teeth, i have not changed my toothpaste or anything! I'm not complaining, obviously! lol But i wondered if anyone else had the same happen to them? It is a coincidence? Could there be other underlining reasons my gums would have so suddenly stopped bleeding? I just put the two together and come to this conclusion as there simply is nothing else! I just assume it's coincindence that my last wisdom tooth came through just a week ago stopped growing, but how the hell can gaining a new tooth stop my gums bleeding? I guess i could ask the same Q - How the hell does testosterone stop them?

But yeah... i find it odd, but i cant think of any other reason.

[pebbles]

It's the loss of progesterone. Enjoy.

About three-quarters of periodontal office visits are made by women, even though women tend to take better care of their teeth then men do. Female hormones affect the gums, and women are particularly susceptible to periodontal problems. Hormone-influenced gingivitis appears in some adolescents, in some pregnant women, and is occasionally a side effect of birth control medication.

Before Menstruation. Gingivitis may flare up in some women a few days before they menstruate when progesterone levels are high. Progesterone dilates blood vessels causing inflammation, and blocks the repair of collagen, the structural protein that supports the gums.

Pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can aggravate existing gingivitis, which typically worsens around the second month and reaches a peak in the eighth month. Pregnancy does not cause gum disease, and simple preventive oral hygiene can help maintain healthy gums. Any pregnancy-relate gingivitis usually resolves within a few months of delivery. (It should be noted that existing periodontal disease in pregnant women may actually have some harmful effects.)

Oral Contraceptives. One study reported that taking oral contraceptives containing the synthetic progesterone desogestrel (but not dienogest, another common progesterone) increased the risk for periodontal disease.
http://adam.about.com/reports/000024_3.htm
http://www.healthysmiles.org.nz/default,290,women-and-gum-disease.sm
http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/133/5/671

[Cindy]

T will increase the production of cells from the bone marrow that protect us from disease but also increase the number of red blood cells and a small cell called platelets. The increase in RBCs will increase your oxygen carrying capacity which is one reason guys have more strength and endurance than girls. It also increases your platelet production which makes you less susceptible to bleed.

It's an evolutionary thing. Guys need to survive injury, girls need to survive child birth. That is all that is important in our genetic make up at reproductive levels.

Cindy

 

[jonjon]

wow! Thanks for that info, Pebbles! I was completely unaware of that! makes sense that my grandad has never seen a dentist in his life and has perfect teeth - all his own!

Good news on my part i guess since i have such a terrible phobia of the dentist, that works in my favour!