Menopause and Oral Health
If you are a woman over a certain age, or if you are a man who cares about a woman over a certain age, it seems like everywhere we turn these days we are hearing about how perimenopause/menopause can impact women’s health. It seems that everything can be blamed for hormones (or lack thereof)! From frozen shoulder to mood swings, the decrease in production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone (which is a normal and expected part of the aging process of a woman) can affect many different aspects of a woman’s life. The decrease in these two chemical messengers traveling around in the bloodstream affects many aspects of the body and this includes your mouth. Cells that once relied on these hormones find themselves without them and thus the gene expression of the cells and the function of those cells decreases.
Here are four ways that perimenopause and menopause affect the oral health of women.
The salivary glands
Your salivary glands have estrogen receptors. When estrogen decreases during perimenopause and menopause the salivary glands no longer function optimally. First, less saliva is produced which results in a feeling of the mouth being dry. Secondly, the saliva quality is also decreased, resulting in saliva that tends to be thicker and less lubricating. Why is this important? Saliva is naturally protective against getting cavities by not only washing away food particles and plaque but is also a pH neutralizer in the mouth. Reduced salivary flow and lower salivary quality increase the risk of cavities and tooth erosion. Staying hydrated, using a toothpaste that is non-abrasive, and chewing sugarless gum with xylitol and using xylitol containing mints all become increasingly important in perimenopause and menopause.
The bone and gums surrounding the teeth
We’ve all heard about osteoporosis being a concern as a woman gets older. Estrogen plays an important role in bone health by inhibiting cells that break down bone while progesterone promotes the activity of bone building. Therefore, when hormone levels drop women become prone to losing bone density and this includes the alveolar (jaw) bone that surrounds the teeth. This puts a woman at greater risk of periodontal disease. Furthermore, dry mouth affects the gums by increasing inflammation, dry mouth, and also the feeling of “burning”. Reduced estrogen also results in a thinning of the oral mucosa which makes it more vulnerable to infection and trauma. Finally, there is a heightened response to irritants such as plaque and food debris remaining in the mouth which can further lead to more gum inflammation and recession. This makes the meticulous removal of all irritants incredibly important and many women during this time find that they benefit greatly from a more frequent teeth cleaning schedule.
The function of your teeth
The sleep disturbances many women experience during the hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause can lead to an increase in tooth grinding and wear. Furthermore, the hormonal changes can lead to a lowering of airway muscle tone which also promotes tooth grinding and causes obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is also worsened by weight gain which is also a frustratingly common occurrence during menopause.
The esthetics/how things look
Dry mouth, an increase in cavities, more recession, more acid erosion, and more wear of the teeth can all affect how one’s teeth look.
Can HRT help?
We hope so! While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help with all these concerns, very little research has been done regarding how HRT can specifically aid in oral health. That isn't so surprising given how women's health was overlooked in the past. We are hopeful that this changes in the future.
We consider your smile your most important asset so let’s do everything we can to keep you healthy through these years and beyond! Contact us or call us at 860-676-2288 today to see how we can help you as you navigate through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.
