Birth Control Pills and Their Link to Periodontitis

There are many factors which can contribute to gum disease, or gingivitis. Poor oral hygiene, eating too many acidic or sugary foods, and smoking are all factors which have been shown to have a causal relationship to gum problems. However, recent research has linked a surprising cause to the effect of gum disease—birth control pills.

A study conducted at the University of Buenos Aires found that women who took birth control pills had more instances of gum disease and required periodontic treatments at nearly twice the rate of women who did not take birth control pills.

The study was conducted with a control group of women who did not use oral contraceptives, as well as a test group of those who used birth control pills. Smoking was removed as a causative factor through selective sampling, and the correlation between birth control pills and gum disease is highly unlikely to be due to chance causes.

The results of the study were that women who take birth control pills may be at greater risk for gingivitis than those who do not use oral contraceptives. The study further found that women who take birth control pills longer than three consecutive years resulted in a higher prevalence of moderate to severe periodontal disease.

This does not mean, of course, that women should simply stop taking birth control pills. However, being aware of the risks may help women to pay closer attention to oral hygiene and allow their dentists to watch more closely for signs of incipient gum disease.      

Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease. If not treated in-time, gum disease can cause severe damage to teeth and gums, which would require restorative dentistry treatments to repair the damage.

Source: Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist
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