Menopause might be best known for hot flashes and night sweats — but did you know it could be taking a bite out of your smile, too?
A survey of more than 1,000 women by Delta Dental found that seven in 10 women 50 and older have dealt with at least one oral health problem since starting the transition.
And yet, a staggering 84% had no idea that their symptoms and the discomfort that comes with them could be tied to the so-called change of life.
It all comes down to the hormonal rollercoaster most women start riding in their 40s.
“Basically what happens in menopause is you lose estrogen and progesterone,” said Dr. Margo Freedberg, an oral surgeon at Riverside Oral Surgery in New Jersey and medical director for MAX Surgical Specialty Management.
“So, you have severe hormone changes which affect everything in your body, mouth included,” she explained.
In the Delta Dental survey, dry mouth was the leading oral health complaint among middle-aged women, with 39% reporting it since the onset of menopause symptoms.
The main culprit is declining estrogen, which slows blood flow to the salivary glands and leaves the mouth producing less saliva — something 13% of women said they’ve experienced.
“There aren’t many studies done here just yet but in general, reduced salivary flow can cause increase in cavities or candidiasis,” Freedberg said.
Candidiasis, more commonly known as oral thrush, is a fungal infection that typically causes white patches on the tongue or inner cheeks and may lead to pain, burning, a loss of taste or light bleeding.
“When your mouth is dry you can get a burning sensation in your tongue too, which we see,” Freedberg added.
Other dental issues were also common. In the survey, 28% of menopausal women said they’d developed new tooth sensitivity or pain and 20% reported tooth decay.
A third noticed receding gums, exposing the roots of their teeth and increasing the risk of sensitivity and decay, while 16% reported bleeding gums.
And it doesn’t stop there.
“Women get osteoporosis after menopause, and that can also affect bones in the mouth,” Freedberg explained, noting that this may lead to actual bone loss.
But sometimes, she noted, the changes in your dental health can be hard to spot.
“In terms of symptoms to look out for, if you notice that your mouth is dry or burning then that is one thing,” Freedberg said. “But you usually can’t tell if you have periodontal disease, your oral professional would have to tell you.”
“This is why everyone — but especially women of menopausal age — should not be skipping their dental and oral health checkups,” she stressed.
Women are starting to take notice.
Even though oral health problems linked to menopause are clearly widespread, only 2% of women surveyed by Delta Dental said they had discussed their concerns with a dentist.
Once they learned about the connection, though, 77% said they plan to make their next dental exam a priority — a small step Freedberg said could make a big difference.
After all, the health of your teeth and gums affects your whole body. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to a host of chronic conditions, including Alzheimer’s, diabetes and heart disease.
“When women ask what they can do at home to maintain their oral health through menopause, I always say it’s about the basics, stick to your routine oral care, don’t smoke and generally live a healthy active life,” Freedberg said
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