According to dentists, hormonal changes during different stages of a woman’s life—from puberty and menstruation to pregnancy—are among the major factors contributing to dental and gum problems. These changes can lead to gum inflammation, bleeding, tooth decay, and increased tooth sensitivity.
Meanwhile, a number of women in Badakhshan say that dental problems increase during various stages of life, particularly after marriage and during pregnancy.
Maliha, a resident of Badakhshan who has been married for four years, says she experienced severe tooth pain during her first pregnancy. Her doctor said the cause was hormonal changes during pregnancy.
“When I was pregnant with my first child, I suffered from severe tooth pain. My back teeth hurt a lot. After I visited a doctor, he told me it was due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, which can weaken the teeth and lead to dental problems,” she says.
Madina Karimi, a 30-year-old woman, says her dental problems began with bad breath from the mouth and later progressed to tooth pain and decay. She adds that the problem returned despite treatment. She explains,
“A few years ago, I visited a dentist because of bad breath from the mouth, and my tooth was filled. However, the root canal treatment was not done properly. A few months ago, the tooth started hurting again, and I visited the dentist. Because of a heart problem, the root canal was performed without injection. After that, I had severe swelling and pain, but I improved after taking medication.”
Fatima Rahimi, another 27-year-old woman, also says that during pregnancy she was unable to visit a dentist on time and had to endure the pain, eventually losing several teeth.
“During pregnancy, I could not visit a dentist on time and had to tolerate the toothache. Even now, because the problem persists, I have to visit the dentist repeatedly, and my treatment takes time and involves several stages. I think my lack of care for my dental health—such as not brushing and consuming too many sweets, especially during childhood—has led to the problems I am experiencing now,” she says.
Meanwhile, dentists emphasize that hormonal changes play an important role in increasing dental problems among women. They explain that these changes during puberty, menstruation, and pregnancy can increase gum inflammation and tooth sensitivity.
Mohammad Sadeq Rafat, a dentist in Badakhshan, says hormonal changes increase blood flow to the gums, making them more sensitive. He adds that hormonal imbalances can cause inflammation, bleeding, and reduced resistance to microbes. This creates favorable conditions for microbial growth in the mouth and increases the risk of tooth decay.
“Hormonal changes in women increase blood flow to the gums and make them more sensitive. In cases of hormonal imbalance, the gums become inflamed, bleeding occurs, and they lose resistance to microbes. This creates a more favorable environment for microbial growth in the mouth and increases the likelihood of tooth decay, particularly during puberty, menstruation, and pregnancy,” he says.
Fawad Saberi, another dentist, says hormonal changes alter the body’s immune response to oral bacteria, creating conditions that promote microbial growth. He says,
“Hormonal changes in women alter the body’s immune response to oral bacteria and create a more favorable environment for microbial growth. As a result, gum inflammation increases, bleeding occurs, and tooth decay increases, especially during puberty, menstruation, and pregnancy.”
Khan Amiri, an internal medicine specialist, adds that nutrition plays an important role in dental health and that deficiencies in calcium and vitamins can weaken the teeth. He adds,
“Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining healthy teeth. Deficiencies in calcium and vitamins can weaken the teeth, while excessive consumption of sweets and soft drinks is one of the main causes of tooth decay, particularly during pregnancy and breastfeeding.”
At the same time, Mahfooz Sultani, Head of Press at the Badakhshan Public Health Department, says that public awareness programs and dental health services are available at the provincial hospital and in some regions, although access remains limited in remote areas.
“Public awareness programs on dental health are ongoing, and services are active at the provincial hospital and in some districts. However, access in remote areas remains limited. Adhering to hygiene practices and using disposable medical equipment are essential for preventing the transmission of diseases,” he adds.
Overall, raising awareness, maintaining a healthy diet, practicing dental hygiene, and having regular dental checkups can play an important role in reducing dental and gum problems.
Reporter: Mehrangiz Ghazi
