For most women, the menopause arrives somewhere between the ages of 45 and 55, although this can vary from person to person. It can be a quite challenging time for some and can have an impact on their lives. Some of the unpleasant symptoms can include night sweats, mood swings, disturbed sleep and a ‘foggy’ brain among other things.
While the effects and symptoms of the menopause are well documented, it is probably less well known about the effect that the menopause can have on your teeth and gums. In today’s blog then, we will be taking a look at this and also what you can do to help avoid most of these issues.
A dry mouth is quite common in women going through the menopause. In itself, it can be annoying and not especially pleasant. From an oral health point of view though, it can be problematic and is especially likely to contribute to the onset of gum disease. We advise that you should try to stay as hydrated as possible to avoid this. Drink plenty of water (not fizzy drinks), chew a sugar free chewing gum, and, if this doesn’t bring about reasonable improvements, discuss this with your GP who may be able to help you.
As mentioned above, gum disease is more likely due to dehydration which allows the potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth to multiply. While ensuring that you brush your teeth well and use dental floss, along with taking steps to improve your hydration as mentioned above, you should also see the dental hygienist on a regular basis. This is usually every six months, but it may be necessary to do so more frequently during this stage of your life. This will vary from person to person. The hygienist at Blake Dental will help you to avoid gum disease by carrying out a professional clean known as a scale and polish. They will also offer useful advice on your general oral health care.
Bone loss is more likely to occur in women who are going through the menopause. This includes bone loss in the jawbone and can have a number of consequences. These include movement of the teeth and teeth becoming loose and wobbly. It can also particularly affect you if you wear dentures. Dentures that once fitted fairly well, may now become loose and move around in the mouth making eating and speaking more difficult. If this happens, don’t put up with it and make an appointment to discuss how we can help; either by making adjustments to the dentures or by discussing an alternative tooth replacement option such as dental implants.
One side effect of gum disease is that it can cause the gums to recede. This exposes the less well protected root area of the tooth. Eating or drinking very hot or very cold food and drinks can be quite painful. It is also possible that the enamel of the teeth may thin at this time which has the same effect. In the latter instance, fitting dental veneers may prove to be an effective way of bringing comfort back to your teeth once more.
One of the main things that happens during menopause is that the hormonal balance changes. This can affect tissue regeneration which can be problematic following an invasive procedure such as an extraction. It is important that the area of the procedure heals as effectively and as quickly as possible to help prevent the risk of infection. You will be offered aftercare advice following treatments such as this and we ask that you abide by these for your own sake. Naturally, if things still don’t heal as they should, you should contact our Witham dental practice for further advice as soon as possible.
Mood swings affect a lot of menopausal women and this can have a significant effect on their sense of well being. It isn’t unusual for morale and energy levels to drop and depression to set in. One problem with this, from a dental perspective, is that overall oral health care can be neglected when this happens. Low morale may cause people to eat sugary foods to help provide energy and to give a bit of ‘feel good’ factor. Brushing the teeth and flossing may well also be forgotten or done all too briefly. If this is the case, it is likely that dental problems will arrive not too long afterwards. Do try to keep on top of your regular oral health regime and do speak to your GP if you are struggling with this particular side effect.
Menopause can be a challenging time for a lot of women, but adding oral health issues to this will only make the experience even more challenging. We can offer help and advice and provide some treatments to help you along the way. Don’t ignore the impact of the menopause on your oral health and let us help you through this time.
For more information on this topic or for any of the treatments mentioned above, please contact Blake Dental on 01376 501688 to discuss this further with us.
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Katie Annabel Blake trading as Blake Dental is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Financing First Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Katie Annabel Blake is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Financing First Limited may not be so authorised and regulated.
