Sex Hormones: Its Impact on Women's Oral Health-A Review

Hormonal variationsin different stages of women's life have a pronounced influence on oral health. Fluctuating levels of sex hormones(estrogen, progesterone and androgen)during different life stages in women such as puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause has a direct and indirect effect on oral health. Alterations in the subgingival microflora, salivary flow, gingival crevicular fluid, epithelial keratinisation and bone are noticed when there is a change in the hormonal levels. Steroid sex hormones has its effects mainly on periodontal and gingival health. This review article focussesthe influence of sex hormones in the various reproductive cycles of women on oral health.