You are unique.

And, as a woman, you have unique health care needs. You know that these needs change with your body; during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, for example, and require you to take special care of yourself or to seek advice from a health care provider.

As your health care needs change, your oral care needs change, too. That's because your oral health and overall health are connected. Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman's life can affect many tissues, including gum tissue. These changes may increase susceptibility to periodontal (gum) disease and require you to take special care of your oral health.

Taking care of your oral health is an important part of your overall health. Learning more about how one affects the other will help you to actively participate in your health care decisions.

As always, we will be happy to provide you with additional information about women and periodontal disease.

A pamphlet about this topic is available in our office, and from the publisher, the American Academy of Periodontology