Think menopause & all the talk about hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats osteoporosis, cancers starts.
Oral health is the last thing that comes to mind when discussing menopause. And yet, this most overlooked aspect of menopause is as important as other symptoms.
Lack of hormones does affect teeth & gums. Remember that menopause is a condition that affects the whole body of a woman, not just selective aspects.
Now, if you’re wondering “ what’s menopause got to do with oral health?” ; the answer is; a lot.
A decline in body oestrogen leads to a few issues with oral health that even some health care providers are not aware of.
A few of these can be attributed to menopause; like;
- Increased tooth sensitivity: Hormonal changes can cause recession of gum; exposing more sensitive parts of teeth , making them vulnerable to temperature changes.
- Oestrogen maintains bone density . With menopause, oestrogen levels go down, leading to weakening of bone structure supporting the teeth. Particularly the jaw bone. This increases risk of tooth loss & gum disease.
- Low oestrogen levels can result in reduced saliva production causing dry mouth. Saliva not only keeps mouth moist but has a crucial role in washing off food particles and neutralising acids. Naturally, with low saliva levels, risks of cavities, gum disease and oral infections go up.
- How can we prevent or reduce chances of this happening? First up, when a woman visits her gynecologist, both of them should talk about oral health & menopause.
- Dentist should be sensitised to consider menopause as a cause for their patients’ tooth problems & refer them to a gynecologist for menopause assistance.
- Patient education is crucial. If a woman is aware of the linkage, she’ll bring up the topic when seeing her gynecologist.
- Gynecologist should be aware as well and ask the right questions when discussing menopause with clients.
- There is a need to include oral health as part of holistic menopause care.
So, all in all, we need to take a closer look at this connection so as to assist a woman who’s dealing with menopausal symptoms.
