Straight Up With Steph

Ep 103: Hormones & Your Mouth: What Everyone Should Know

Stephanie Botts Season 1 Episode 103

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0:00 | 51:19

Hormones don't just affect your mood—they can completely change your oral health.

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, Stephanie sits down with returning guest Barbara Tritz, RDH, to discuss one of the most overlooked topics in dentistry: how hormones influence the health of our gums, teeth, saliva, and supporting bone throughout every stage of life. 


In this episode:

  • Why hormones affect oral health more than most clinicians realize
  • Puberty, pregnancy and menopause through the dental lens
  • The surprising connection between pregnancy and oral bacteria
  • Why perimenopause often begins years before women expect
  • Estrogen's role in protecting gum tissue, bone and saliva
  • How dry mouth increases cavity risk
  • Why Barbara believes salivary testing should become standard of care
  • Practical strategies to protect your mouth during hormonal changes

If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could benefit from it.

Topics Discussed: hormones and oral health, pregnancy gingivitis, menopause dental health, perimenopause gums, dry mouth, bleeding gums, dental hygiene, women's health

Links mentioned:

Fn induces premature and term stillbirths: https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/iai.72.4.2272-2279.2004 

Dry Mouth Blog:

https://queenofdentalhygiene.net/2023/12/defeat-dry-mouth/

Hormone Blog:

https://queenofdentalhygiene.net/2026/07/hormones-and-oral-health


About Barbara

Connect with Barbara:

Blog: queenofdentalhygiene.net

Facebook: Barbara Tritz RDH

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-tritz-2021 


To watch on YouTube, click here

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Polished Posture. The information shared in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making significant lifestyle changes. 

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