Yes, it can!
As a dental practitioner, it is my goal to look after my patient’s teeth at each stage of their life. During menopause, women may go through significant biological and hormonal changes that can affect their body and oral health. Let’s take a look at how menopause affects oral health and what you can do to avoid potential issues by caring for your dental health.
How does Menopause affect my Oral Health?
A decline in oestrogen levels leads to a loss of bone mass in the spine, hips and even the jawbone. This increases the risk for wobbly teeth or worse, losing teeth.
Gum disease is another issue that can occur during menopause due to the loss of oestrogen. This can manifest in symptoms such as:
- Gum inflammation
- Bleeding gums
- Mouth and gum tenderness
- Receding gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Pain on chewing
- Bite issues
- Dental Infections
Dry mouth is another major issue during menopause caused by low levels of oestrogen. This increases your risk of gum disease and cavities. When you don’t produce enough saliva to wash away oral bacteria, germs can accumulate inside your mouth, which may lead to gingivitis and tooth decay.
Additional Effects
Hormonal changes can also cause mood swings and emotional instability during menopause. This can cause stress and anxiety, often causing women to indulge in unhealthy habits including:
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Sugary food and drinks
These can further exacerbate menopause-related dental issues.
How to avoid these issues?
These are some ways you can take charge of your oral health to minimize menopause-related changes to your teeth:
- Brush your teeth daily: You should brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes. With a dry mouth means less saliva, hence this can reduce your mouth’s natural cleaning ability.
- Rinse your mouth after a meal: Drink water following a meal to rinse the mouth and reduce plaque buildup.
- Visit your dentist for a professional clean: It is best to visit your dentist every 6 months for a check-up and clean. Professional cleaning helps target hard to reach areas that you cannot reach in your daily brushing routine.
- Reducing sugar: Sugar is one of the most harmful substances for teeth as it encourages bacteria in plaque to produce acid, which then causes cavities in your teeth. During menopause, going sugar-free can help mitigate symptoms of dry mouth.
- Speak to your dentist: Your dental professional will analyze the state of your oral health and provide you with advice. You should seek professional dental help if you are experiencing bone thinning and/or loose teeth. So don’t wait, make an appointment to learn about the best ways we can manage menopause-related oral health changes.
Summary
Menopause is the process when the female body goes through biological and hormone changes which can affect their body and oral health. This may cause many changes to your oral health. Taking extra care of your oral hygiene during this time will help you avoid menopause-related dental issues. So, if you think you’re experiencing menopause, or want some advice on keeping your gums and teeth healthy, reach out to the friendly Allenby Gardens Dental team! We are always here to support you and your oral health!
I am a patient of Dr Cheryl Looi, and she has helped me overcome my fear of going back to the dentist after having a lot of intense periodontic work several years ago, through a different practice. The thing I love most about the Allenby Gardens Dental team is that they are a female owned and operated practice and the first day I went in all the staff were dressed up as superheroes, so I was greeted by Mel, the amazing practice manager, in a cape! I am incredibly grateful to have Dr Looi and AGD Practice’s support to collaborate with me on this important topic, and to raise awareness about the Meno change. You can see the professionals I have engaged with on my journey at the Mimi Moon Meno reference page here.