What is Periodontal Disease? An inflammatory condition affecting gums, the ligament holding teeth in place (periodontal ligament), and jawbone (Mehrotra & Singh, 2023).  The impacts of periodontal disease aren't limited to the mouth; there is also research linking this to other chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease (Beck et al, 2000). This takes hold when there is a shift in the bacterial population and is sustained by the body's own immune response as bacteria feed off of the cells who have come to fight the infection causing a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation (Hajishengallis et al, 2000). The link between shifts in estrogen and it's impact on the microbiomes of the body is well documented. This includes the biome in the mouth. As estrogen levels shift potentially impacting the mouth microbiome, there's an increased likelihood of developing periodontal disease in perimenopause and post menopause (Nieto, M. et al, 2025, Thomas et al, 2025).

Once it has moved past gingivitis, Periodontal Disease  is called Periodontitis and is ranked in terms of severity based on how far the gums are pulling away from the teeth, the amount of bone loss on the teeth, and any tooth loss. The disease is also graded based on how quickly it is progressing. There is no set progression path or timeline (Gasner & Schure, 2025). This is important to note, because if you have a mild form of periodontitis you may be at risk for the disease to progress more quickly as you enter into perimenopause and menopause.