Dental Issues And Menopause

Oh. Here we go again. Just when I thought I knew what was around every menopause corner, I have recently learned that oral issues are to be expected.

I know I’m not alone in dreading a trip to the dentist. Love you Dr. Ghandi, but still.

Did you know that 30% of women will lose a tooth within the first five years of menopause? Yeah. Sigh.

Menopause signifies a major change in our hormones making us more susceptible to dental issues like dry mouth, gum recession, increase in cavities, burning mouth syndrome, tooth pain and gum disease.

The skin inside your lips and cheeks, called the oral mucosa, is like the skin inside your vagina, not only in tissue makeup but also in how it responds to a lack of estrogen. The teeth and gums are extremely susceptible to any hormonal changes that take place just before menopause and readily decrease the body's ability to fight off minor infections or maintain a healthy balance of useful and harmful bacteria within the oral environment.

Ok. So what can we do about it?

• HT (hormone therapy). There is encouraging data to support the use of HT helps protect the jaw and teeth.

• Stay on top of regular dental visits. Your dentist can check for gum recession, which is an indication of bone loss, which is to be expected with the loss of estrogen during menopause.

• Daily care. Keep up with flossing and brushing every day.

• Eat a balanced diet. Avoid sugar and sugary bevies.

• Don’t smoke.

We know that our bodies and brains go through significant change during menopause. Like a not-so-fun adventure.

I find comfort in information. The more I know, the more prepared I am for what’s around the corner. And the more preventative steps I can take now to ensure I’m doing all the things to feel good and help my body thrive.

I’m not thrilled about potentially losing a tooth, or getting a cavity but now I know that it’s a thing and I can try to avoid it.

Now go floss your teeth so that you don’t end up in that 30% losing a tooth.