If you're new around here, welcome! I'm a menstrual health expert and hormone ND. I have helped thousands of women welcome in healthy periods and balanced hormones with my program Period Reboot! Be sure to hop on the waiting list so you're notified the next time the doors open!

We all know it's important to brush and floss to prevent cavities, but what if I told you there are many other factors that contribute to oral health as well? 🦷

I don't know about you, but I've learned more about oral health and biological dentistry from Instagram than I have in my years of seeing dentists! When I began following biological dentist Dr. Leedia Riman on Instagram, I knew I had to interview her and learn more about hormones and oral health. Her account stood out to me because she talks about SO much that's often overlooked by standard dentists- how hormones impact our teeth, the truth about fluoride and considerations as women to keep our oral health optimal.

What is biological dentistry? 

 A biological dentist is a "whole body" dentist. They want to know about your diet, lifestyle, stress levels, what your hormones are like, if you have had any pregnancies, if you have breastfed, if you have taken birth control or other medications and so much more. What you are consuming, impacts your oral health. Biological dentists will likely order lab tests to check nutrient levels such as vitamin d, k2, magnesium and other micronutrients. The goal is to understand your body as a whole so that oral healing can take place. You can find a biological dentist near you here. 

"You are a whole person, not just a set of teeth."

- Dr. Leedia Riman

Hormonal changes that can affect a woman's oral health:

• menstruation
• pregnancy
• breastfeeding
• oocyte cryopreservation / in-vitro fertilization (egg freezing + IVF)
• using hormonal birth control

Our mouth contains hormone receptors just like other tissues throughout our body. When hormones fluctuate, these oral receptors are also stimulated. 

Examples on how hormones like relaxin, estrogen and progesterone affect oral health during these times of hormonal fluctuation:

When a woman gives birth her body releases a hormone called relaxin. Relaxin helps to loosen muscles, joint and ligaments to prepare your body for delivery. We have periodontal ligaments (PDL) around our teeth. These ligaments contain relaxin receptors and are also stimulated during this time of pregnancy/birth which may cause teeth shifting. This shifting of teeth can impact how we bite down and can lead to various concerns like tension and migraines.

Increased amounts of estrogen can make our gums sensitive to plaque contributing to gingivitis, infection of the gums around your teeth. Gingivitis is reversible when addressed early. If this infection moves to the bone, it is considered periodontitis and is no longer reversible. This means the use of birth control increases the likelihood of developing gingivitis and contributes to severity of infection. 

Dr. Leedia stated that ALL dentists should be asking their patients if they are on hormonal birth control, and yet I realized no dentist in my life has ever asked me that question. Because our oral health can be negatively impacted by the pill for example, dentists should be asking about birth control use. 

Essential steps for hormone + oral health (especially for pregnancy):

• adequate vitamin d3 + k2 (needed for calcium uptake)
• take care of dental decay before conception (and find out the underlying cause for decay)
• address mouth breathing (a root cause of tonsil stones and chronic bad breath)
• do oil pulling / tongue scraping
• use hydroxyapatite toothpaste instead of fluoride toothpaste

But, is fluoride really that bad?! 🕵️

Fluoride does strengthen tooth structure on a chemical level, however, bottom line, fluoride is toxic. 😲 Instead of fluoride we recommend the use of hydroxyapatite which works the same way but is naturally found in our bones. The longer hydroxyapatite remains on the tooth, the better it works! Fluoride has been shown over and over in studies to be toxic and dangerous for humans.

Five key pillars for healthy oral health (and hormone health!):

1. have good home oral hygiene (brushing + flossing at home)
2. get frequent dental check-ups (every 6 months or so)
3. eat a nutrient dense diet (this is what my program Period Reboot is allll about!)
4. get in proper supplementation
5. address habits that negatively impact oral health (i.e. mouth breathing, hormonal birth control, extended pacifier use and thumb sucking, etc.. )

Have you heard of biological dentistry? How has your oral health impacted your life?

I got to interview on my podcast the lovely Dr. Leedia Riman of @drleedia to talk about her work as a biological dentist and why oral health is such an important factor in overall health. 

On the CYCLICAL Podcast: Hormones, Birth Control and Oral Health with Dr. Leedia Riman

This episode will probably blow you away and make you feel so much m ore empowered in your oral health. If you're seeking a dentist like Dr. Leedia, I recommend searching for Biological Dentistry. 

This blog is based off my interview with Dr. Leedia. Want to hear more?? Be sure to tune into the CYCLICAL podcast!

Episode "Hormones, Birth Control and Oral Health with Dr. Leedia Riman" 

You can find the CYCLICAL Podcast on iTunes, Spotify or anywhere you enjoy podcasts

Learn how to work with me here

 You don't have to feel in the dark about your symptoms anymore and if your doctor is saying "NO" when you request hormone testing, please know there are options! If you're ready to get to the root of what's going on, check out my Work With Me page to learn how to begin this journey of support, nourishment and hormone balance. 

If your hormones feel off, they probably are! So don't brush it off and assume everything is "normal" when you feel anything but. xx