Hormones play an important part in a woman’s life, from puberty to menopause, and can affect mood, weight, sex drive, and more. Women in menopause often experience many changes throughout their bodies, yet few are aware of the connection between menopause and their oral health symptoms and discomfort.
According to ADA dentist Dr. Alice Boghosian, there are two critical changes to be aware of during menopause: dry mouth and bone loss. “Saliva cleanses the teeth and rinses cavity-causing bacteria off your teeth,” Dr. Boghosian says. “When you have dry mouth, your saliva flow decreases and you’re more at risk for cavities.” And losing bone in your jaw can lead to tooth loss. “The decreased estrogen that occurs with menopause also puts you at risk for a loss of bone density,” Dr. Boghosian says. “Signs of bone loss in your jaw can be something as simple as receding gums. When your gums recede, more of your tooth is exposed and that puts more of your tooth at risk for decay. And if your mouth is dry, that’s a double whammy.” ¹
According to a survey recently conducted by Delta Dental ², 70% of women in menopause have reported experiencing at least one of the following symptoms:
- Dry mouth
- Tooth sensitivity, pain or tooth decay
- Reduced saliva production
- Burning tongue
- Bleeding gums
- Receding gum lines
- Altered gums
Although a majority of women in menopause experience one or more of these symptoms, it may surprise you to learn that an astounding 84% of women aged 50 and over don’t know how menopause affects their oral health, or that there is a connection at all. And only 2% of those surveyed have discussed their concerns with their dentist, or understand how dentists can help them address symptoms related to menopause.
Although dry mouth and receding gumlines were the most frequently reported symptoms, many women over 50 don’t know that menopause can also increase their risk for:
- Gum disease
- Tooth decay
- Tooth loss
- Changes in jawbone density
The online survey of 1,061 U.S. women over, ages 50 and older was recently published by Delta Dental. The survey – Delta Dental’s 2023 Senior Oral Health and Menopause Report: Breaking the Stigma ²- reveals the stigma and avoidance of open discourse about menopause that is prevalent in our society. The results revealed that women consult Google for information about their oral health and menopause as often as they consult their primary care doctors.
“With menopause a long-stigmatized topic and symptoms going largely unaddressed or even ignored, these findings are stark but unsurprising,” says Sarah Chavarria, President at Delta Dental. “Despite the knowledge gaps revealed in this survey, sentiments about menopause are beginning to shift, and women are eager to break the stigma.”
The good news is that nearly 80% of women over 50 that were surveyed plan on prioritizing scheduling of their next exam/cleaning, and over half of the women surveyed – of all ages – say they will spend much more time on their oral care moving forward.
Being aware of how menopause can affect your oral health opens the door of communication between you and your dental team, so that they can then support you and offer you treatment options as needed. If you have concerns about your oral health symptoms, reach out to us to schedule an appointment today!
¹ Read “Hormones and Dental Health: What Every Woman Needs to Know” at mouthhealthy.org.
² Read “84% of Women 50 and Older Unaware of Menopause-Oral Health Connection” on Dentistry Today.
