Health Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Periodontal Disease and Gingivitis: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study Among Saudi Women in Jeddah

BACKGROUND: Sex hormones strongly influence the health and ailment of the oral cavity. For instance, a woman’s oral health is influenced by her menstrual cycle, menopause, pregnancy, and usage of oral contraceptives. The use of various therapeutic medication results in intraoral alterations. Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are among the drugs that produce intraoral alterations. The study’s objective was to evaluate attitudes and oral health conditions of Saudi women’s utilizing OCPs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among Saudi women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The self-administered questionnaire was made and sent to women to evaluate the attitude and oral health condition of women utilizing OCPs. The women using OCPs were asked to self-administer 17 questions to evaluate attitudes and oral health conditions. The questionnaire had multiple-choice questions and was consisted of four sections. RESULTS: The number of participants who used contraceptives was 125 (35.9%) women; of them, only 94 (75.2%) used oral contraceptives. The duration of using oral contraceptives mainly was 1–5 years (39.4%), then > 5 years (34.0%), and <1 year (26.6%). Of the 94 women, 34 (36.2%) had gingival diseases, 23 (24.5%) treated their gums; and 13 (13.8%) cleaned their gums at a dental clinic regularly. Times of teeth brushing per day were one time in 32 women (34%), twice in 47 women (50.0%), and three times in 15 (16.0%). Of the 94 women, 4 (4.3%) were smoking, 24 (25.5%) took medication other than OCPs, and 16 (17.02%) had chronic diseases. Common oral complications noticed by participants were gum bleeding after brushing (51.6%), dental caries (25.5%), and oral ulcers (10.6%). CONCLUSION: Females on OCPs had a high rate of gingival bleeding, dental caries, and oral ulcers. OCPs users had poor periodontal and gingival health. Establishing an oral hygiene program was necessary to treat gingival and periodontal inflammation that exacerbated by OCPs.