Which hormonal changes during pregnancy are linked to oral health changes?

• A. Increases in estrogen and progesterone
• B. Increases in testosterone
• C. Decreases in cortisol
• D. Increases in growth hormone only

Answer: (A)

Rising levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy are the factors that link to oral health changes. These hormones increase vascularity and capillary permeability in the gum tissues and modulate the local inflammatory response to dental plaque. As a result, plaque triggers a stronger inflammatory reaction, leading to pregnancy gingivitis with redness, swelling, and bleeding, and in some cases can contribute to gingival overgrowth or a pregnancy-related gingival mass. Other listed hormones don’t drive the classic pregnancy‑associated gingival changes: testosterone isn’t a key driver in pregnancy, cortisol tends to rise (not decrease), and growth hormone changes aren’t the primary cause of these gingival alterations.