What makes hair and teeth fall out?

September 21, 2025 •

4 min read

Genetic disorders, including some forms of ectodermal dysplasia, can lead to both missing or misshapen teeth and sparse hair. Understanding the complex interplay of internal and external factors is key to knowing what makes hair and teeth fall out, from infections to diet and stress.

Quick Summary

Several interconnected health and environmental factors contribute to hair and teeth falling out, including autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata, severe gum disease (periodontitis), nutritional deficiencies, hormonal shifts, and chronic stress.

Key Points

Immune-System Link: Some tooth infections can trigger an overactive immune response, potentially leading to autoimmune hair loss like alopecia areata.
Gum Disease Impact: Severe gum disease (periodontitis) destroys the bone supporting teeth and is linked to chronic inflammation that can affect overall health.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of key nutrients, such as iron, zinc, and Vitamin D, can weaken both hair and teeth, leading to loss.
Hormonal Shifts: Changes in hormones, common during menopause, can cause hair thinning and increase the risk of oral health issues like gum disease.
Genetic Factors: Some rare hereditary conditions, like ectodermal dysplasia, directly affect the development of hair and teeth from birth.
Stress is a Major Factor: Chronic stress can disrupt the hair growth cycle and cause habits like teeth grinding, both contributing to loss.

The Surprising Links Between Hair and Oral Health

Many people are familiar with hair loss or tooth loss as isolated issues, often attributing them to aging or genetics. However, the health of your hair and teeth are interconnected in fascinating ways. Some systemic conditions that affect the immune system or create inflammatory responses can impact both hair follicles and the structures supporting your teeth, occasionally at the same time. The body’s intricate systems are all linked, and a problem in one area can signal trouble elsewhere. By exploring the various causes, we can better understand how to prevent these occurrences.

Systemic Health and Immune-Related Causes

Several systemic health issues can trigger both hair and tooth problems. The body's immune system, when overstimulated or malfunctioning, can mistakenly attack its own cells, leading to a range of complications. One well-documented example is alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing hair to fall out in patches. Some research suggests that an infection, including a tooth infection, can trigger this kind of immune response.

Autoimmune Disorders

Alopecia Areata: An immune system attack on hair follicles, sometimes triggered by infections in other parts of the body, including dental infections.
Lupus: An autoimmune disease that can lead to scarring alopecia, as well as oral ulcers and an increased risk of periodontal disease due to inflammation.

The Impact of Oral Infections and Inflammation

Oral health is often an indicator of overall health, and a significant connection exists between advanced gum disease and other systemic issues. When gum disease (periodontitis) becomes severe, the bacteria-laden plaque inflames the gums and can eventually destroy the bone and ligaments holding the teeth in place, leading to tooth loss. This chronic inflammation also increases systemic inflammation, which can affect other parts of the body.

Periodontitis and Hair Loss

Chronic infections associated with severe tooth decay and periodontitis can trigger a hyperactive immune response. In some instances, this systemic inflammation can lead to conditions like alopecia areata, as the immune cells mistakenly target hair follicles. Addressing dental infections promptly is crucial for both oral health and preventing potential complications elsewhere in the body.

Hormonal and Genetic Factors

Hormonal fluctuations and genetic predispositions play a significant role in both hair and tooth loss. For example, hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause can lead to temporary hair shedding (telogen effluvium) and also affect oral health, increasing sensitivity and the risk of gingivitis. Hereditary conditions can also present with both symptoms from birth.

Hereditary Conditions Affecting Hair and Teeth

Ectodermal Dysplasia: A group of rare genetic disorders that can result in sparse hair, malformed or missing teeth, and issues with sweat glands.
Androgenetic Alopecia: The most common form of hair loss (male and female pattern baldness) is genetically driven and linked to sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Hormonal Shifts

Thyroid Disorders: An underactive or overactive thyroid can interfere with hormone production, causing widespread hair thinning.
Menopause: The decline in estrogen can affect hair growth cycles, leading to thinning, and contribute to bone loss in the jaw, impacting tooth stability.

Nutritional Deficiencies

A balanced diet is essential for strong, healthy hair and teeth. Deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals can weaken these structures and compromise the body's ability to repair itself.

Iron Deficiency: Can lead to anemia, a common cause of hair loss, especially in women.
Vitamin D and Calcium: Vital for bone and tooth strength. Deficiencies can weaken enamel and bone, increasing the risk of cavities, periodontal disease, and tooth loss.
Biotin (Vitamin B7) and Zinc: Critical for hair tissue growth and repair; deficiencies can contribute to hair thinning and loss.
Vitamin C: Essential for healthy gums and collagen production. Deficiency can lead to swollen, bleeding gums and increase the risk of periodontal disease.

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Your daily habits and environmental exposure can have a profound effect on the health of your hair and teeth. Chronic stress, poor hygiene, and harmful habits are major culprits.

Stress and Hygiene

Chronic Stress: Triggers hormonal changes (like increased cortisol) that can disrupt the hair growth cycle (telogen effluvium) and weaken the immune system. Stress can also lead to teeth grinding (bruxism), damaging enamel and potentially causing fractures.
Poor Oral Hygiene: Irregular or incorrect brushing and flossing allow plaque to build up, leading to gingivitis and eventually periodontitis.
Harsh Hair Practices: Tight hairstyles like braids or buns can cause traction alopecia, physically pulling hair from the follicles.

Comparison of Common Causes


Cause	Impact on Hair	Impact on Teeth
Periodontitis (Gum Disease)	Indirect link via systemic inflammation and autoimmune response	Direct cause of tooth loss by destroying bone and tissue
Nutrient Deficiency	Thinning, shedding, and loss due to lack of iron, zinc, or biotin	Weakened enamel, decay, and bone loss from low calcium or Vitamin D
Chronic Stress	Telogen effluvium, disrupts hair growth cycle	Bruxism (grinding) and increased risk of gum disease due to poor immunity
Hormonal Changes	Thinning hair during menopause, pregnancy	Increased gingivitis risk, bone loss impacting tooth stability
Genetics	Hereditary androgenetic alopecia	Predisposition to certain enamel defects or missing teeth

Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Your Health

Hair and tooth loss are often complex, with multiple factors at play. While some causes, like genetics, are beyond our control, many others can be managed with a proactive approach to overall health. Addressing systemic issues like autoimmune conditions, maintaining rigorous oral hygiene, ensuring proper nutrition, and managing stress are all critical steps. If you notice concerning hair shedding or dental issues, a medical or dental professional can help determine the underlying cause and create an appropriate treatment plan. For more information on maintaining good dental hygiene, you can visit the American Dental Association website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, indirectly. Severe tooth infections can trigger an immune system response. In some cases, this heightened immune activity is linked to autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata, where the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles.

Deficiencies in several key nutrients can contribute. Iron deficiency is a common cause of hair loss, while insufficient calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin C can weaken teeth, gums, and jawbone, leading to decay and loosening.

Yes, chronic stress is a major contributor. It can trigger telogen effluvium, causing widespread hair shedding. For teeth, stress often leads to bruxism (grinding), which can damage teeth, and can also suppress the immune system, worsening gum disease.

Not necessarily. While some serious conditions can cause this, many more common factors are involved. These include nutritional deficiencies, poor oral hygiene, aging, and hormonal changes. It is best to consult with a doctor to determine the underlying cause.

Rare genetic disorders like ectodermal dysplasia can cause congenital abnormalities in both hair and teeth. Other inherited conditions, like androgenetic alopecia, are purely hereditary for hair loss but do not affect teeth.

Hormonal shifts, such as those during pregnancy or menopause, can impact hair growth cycles and blood supply to the gums. This can lead to increased hair shedding or a heightened risk of gum inflammation and bone loss.

Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, is reversible with good oral hygiene. However, periodontitis, the advanced stage, causes irreversible damage to the bone and supporting tissues, but its progression can be halted with professional dental treatment.