Your mouth is having a moment. From the rise of high-tech, stylish flossing routines and statement grillz to the backlash against veneers, oral care is no longer limited to the dentist’s chair. It’s part wellness practice and part personal style. In Marie Claire’s first-ever Teeth Week, we’re exploring why dentistry feels cooler—and more culturally loaded—than ever.
You can floss religiously, use the high-end toothpaste, and still watch your gums bleed in the mirror, because hormones don’t care about your oral hygiene routine. That's because almost every physical, emotional, and cognitive aspect of your body is affected by hormones—and that includes the mouth. Oral health and hormones are directly correlated, even if you're not clocking the connection. Take pregnancy gingivitis, a gum inflammation that makes gums highly sensitive and tender and affects up to 75 percent of pregnancies, according to the Cleveland Clinic. “But it's far from the only dental issue that plagues younger and older women, initiated by hormonal changes during puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause,” says Ellie Phillips, DDS, a dentist and educator based in Austin, TX.
