Beyond the hot flash: The menopause symptom no one warns you about 

You’ve heard about the hot flashes. You may be prepared for disrupted sleep, brain fog and mood swings. But there is one menopause symptom many don’t know about: “menopause mouth.”  

If that comes as a surprise, you’re not alone:  83% of women 40 and older were unaware of the connection between menopause and oral health, according to a survey from Delta Dental Insurance Company.  
 

What menopause mouth feels like

Forty percent say they have noticed an increase in dry mouth. Another 27% have noticed more tooth sensitivity in recent months, and 26% say things taste different than they used to. You tell yourself it’s something else. You’re not drinking enough water; you’ve been brushing too hard. Menopause isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.

It adds up. Forty-five percent say oral symptoms associated with menopause, such as tooth pain, dry mouth or gum inflammation, take a toll on their confidence, mood or mental health.

“The mouth is a window to overall health and can be one of the most powerful diagnostic tools to understand what's going on inside the rest of your body,” shared Dr. Daniel Croley, chief dental officer at Delta Dental Insurance Company. “Because of this, the mouth can be one of the first places to show that your hormones are changing during perimenopause and menopause, which is why it's important to take extra care of your oral health as your body undergoes critical changes, both mentally and physically.” 
 

Menopause affects the whole body, mentally and physically. So why is the mouth left out?

“Oral health is whole-body health, and our research shows that a majority of women say having a better understanding of the connection between the two would make them more likely to discuss menopause with their dentist,” said Sarah Chavarria, CEO of Delta Dental Insurance Company. “By starting conversations about midlife changes at your next dental check-up, your dentist can become part of the team of providers helping to take care of your overall health.”   

Even after learning about this connection, 30% of women say they can’t find information about menopause-related oral health concerns. It isn’t that no one is willing to discuss it.
 

What makes the conversation hard to start

Three-quarters of dentists say they are comfortable discussing menopause with patients. They just want to know who they’re talking to. Most say they would want more patient history, or to know a patient was in menopause, before raising the subject. Forty-five percent say they would not bring up how menopause affects oral health unless a patient asked.

Dentists also believe that patients are already informed. Ninety-four percent say their patients are at least somewhat aware that menopause can affect oral health. So a patient says nothing about her dry mouth, because it doesn’t seem like a dental problem. The dentist doesn’t bring it up either, assuming someone already has.
 

Women are asking for the information

Nearly nine in 10 women say it would help to receive specific instructions during dental visits about managing oral health during menopause. And 69% say they would be more likely to book an appointment if a primary care provider or OB-GYN had told them menopause affects oral health.

No matter who brings it up, the conversation is one worth having. Hormonal changes during menopause can increase the risk of tooth loss or tooth decay, gum disease, receding gumline or loss of jawbone density. Discussing new oral symptoms with a dentist can help women identify potential problems and address them early. 
 

How to start the conversation with your dentist

Your dentist probably doesn’t know you’re in menopause. Start there. 

Questions worth asking:
 

• “Could the changes I’m noticing be related to menopause?”
• “I haven’t had a cavity in 30 years, and now I have two. Could that be tied to hormonal changes?”
• “What can I do about dry mouth?”
• “Are there symptoms I should watch for?”
• “Should I adjust my oral care routine?”

Any one of these questions can get the conversation started. 
 

Methodology

Delta Dental Insurance Company commissioned Atomik Research to conduct two online surveys between June 25 and July 2, 2025.

The first surveyed 200 dentists throughout the United States. The margin of error is +/- 7 percentage points with a 95% confidence level.

The second surveyed 1,511 women ages 40 or older throughout the United States. To qualify, participants had to indicate they are in perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause. Those who were not sure which stage they were in, or who indicated they were not yet in one of the three stages, were excused from participation. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% confidence level

Atomik Research, part of 4media group, is an independent market research agency.