Menopause also changes your mouth — here’s how to help manage oral health symptoms

More than one billion women globally are expected to be in menopause or postmenopausal by 2025, impacting nearly half of the world’s workforce. Despite its undeniable impact on total wellness, menopause remains largely shrouded in stigma, deterring women from discussing their symptoms with peers and healthcare providers.

Delta Dental Insurance Company’s  second menopause-oral health survey recently found that most U.S. women aged 40+ do not know how menopause can affect oral health, despite 51% of respondents saying they’ve experienced a change in the appearance of their teeth and gums as they age. Further, the study found that 22% of menopausal women and 20% of perimenopausal women report they have missed work in the previous 12 months because of menopause-related symptoms.

So, what can you do to maintain a healthy smile during menopause? Here’s how you can leverage your community and healthcare team to manage the wide range of symptoms triggered by the hormonal transition.

Routine dental checkups

The mouth is the gateway to the body, as a patient’s oral health can indicate overall health and well-being. Dentists are equipped to detect more than 120 symptoms of non-dental conditions - ranging from pregnancy to cardiovascular disease.

“Dentists are equipped to support patients in managing oral symptoms linked to menopause,” said Karen Horace, DDS, dental policy manager at Delta Dental Insurance Company. “Saliva is the mouth’s natural buffer and decreases in production as estrogen levels drop during menopause. Lower saliva production can lead to chronic dry mouth, which increases the risk of tooth decay and ultimately tooth loss.”

Delta Dental Insurance Company’s survey reports less than 20% of women surveyed have had such discussions with an oral health provider. Further, 4-in-5 dentists across the U.S. indicate they are open to discussing the impact of menopause on their oral health, however, most say they would not initiate the discussion unless the patient brought up the topic first.

This means it’s up to patients to proactively initiate the dialogue with dentists. If you’re uncomfortable discussing menopause from the dentist’s chair, try starting the conversation over email before heading into your next checkup.

Dr. Horace advises patients to share their medical history with providers since some health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, and the medications that treat them, may exacerbate the feeling of oral dryness.

“Patients should keep their dentist updated with their current medications and make note of any burning or tingling of oral tissues,” she added, “a potential sign of burning mouth syndrome, a condition some women may experience during menopause.”

Consistent habits

Keeping up with a solid oral healthcare routine is critical to protecting your smile and gum health during menopause. Dr. Horace recommends establishing and maintaining consistent habits in your wellness routine to promote a healthy smile.

“Regular flossing, brushing, and going to routine dental checkups are essential to maintaining good oral health,” said Dr. Horace. “This is especially true during a hormonal transition like menopause.”

Here are four easy habits to jumpstart your oral health routine:  
 

1. Follow the “2-1-2 Rule”: Brush twice a day, floss once a day and visit your dentist twice a year.
2. Stay consistently hydrated and discuss dry mouth symptoms with your medical team.
3. Eat a balanced diet rich in Vitamin D and calcium to support teeth and bones. Bone health can affect jawbone density, a commonly reported menopause symptom.
4. Exercise regularly to support overall health and heart health, which are both linked to oral health.
    

Find community and support

Advocating for your health and wellness is essential to achieving better health outcomes. Further, open and honest conversations help reduce societal stigma and break down barriers to care.

Be sure to discuss your symptoms and concerns with healthcare providers and discuss the transformative experience with loved ones. Everyone has a unique menopause journey with different symptoms and challenges, and vulnerability can help empower other women to discuss this pivotal life chapter openly.

Transparent conversations demystify menopause by enabling comfort, advocacy, and education of its many nuanced symptoms. These discussions support women in their everyday lives, including in the workplace.

Learn more

Delta Dental Insurance Company is committed to helping women embrace aging by connecting members to quality healthcare, which can encourage preventative health. For additional information about oral health and menopause, including an email template to start the conversation before your next dentist appointment, visit ddins.co/menopause.