Teeth, Gums And Menopause

Smiling and laughing are good for us. Both lift our spirits and have a positive effect on our wellbeing. They say that laughter is the best medicine and I can understand why. There’s nothing better than a good giggle to release stress and cheer you up. 

But what if you’re unhappy with your smile? Unhappy to expose your teeth to the world because you feel self conscious about them? 

When we’re young we don’t think twice about smiling or laughing in front of other people. But as we get older we can become uncomfortable with the way we look when we smile. Our teeth are not always as good as they once were. They might not be as white or as aligned as they were in our youth. We may have some gaps or fillings that we’d rather not show. And some of our teeth might not be the ones that nature intended. Instead some of our teeth could be ones we have paid for to replace the teeth we’ve lost.

Is this just age creeping up on us or are there other factors too? It’s true that age does affect our teeth. Wear and tear from years of use do take their toll. However, some of us may have had problems with our teeth and gums from an early age. Whether it’s something hereditary, medical, or due to lack of oral hygiene in our carefree younger days, it will have made a difference to our smile.

What about perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause? Are these interlinked stages of our lives likely to have a negative impact on our teeth as they can on other aspects of our health and wellbeing?

I know I’m asking a lot of questions here. But these are the questions that I keep asking myself as my next dental check-up looms. I’ve never had particularly strong teeth and since my early 30s I’ve suffered problems with my gums. So my dental health has long been a worrying issue for me. On top of that I’ve noticed a more rapid deterioration since my hormones levels began to change.

Is it just my imagination or does menopause affect the health of our teeth and gums?

Let’s find out

A Lifetime Of Hormonal Changes

A woman’s life can often feel like a hormonal rollercoaster ride. Puberty, the monthly cycle, pregnancy and perimenopause, all keep those hormones looping the loop. Puberty lasts a fair while but the hormonal changes are positive ones. Even if some of the effects of puberty are not always pleasant at the time. 

The monthly cycle, by its very nature, goes in regular fits and starts. Which means that at least for part of every month our hormones are stable and we feel okay.

Pregnancy lasts for months and the changes to a woman’s hormones, as well as to her body, can cause major disruption. But after pregnancy the hormones generally revert back to their pre pregnancy pattern.

Perimenopause on the other hand can last for years. Up to10 years or more for some women. And our postmenopause years take us through the rest of our lives. With longer life expectancy now that could amount to 30 years or more as a postmenopausal woman, depending on when you reach menopause itself.

A Good Indicator

A good indication that hormonal fluctuation can have an adverse effect on our dental health is the free NHS dental treatment offered to all pregnant women in the UK. The free dental treatment continues for a year after the due date too. 

The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can increase the risk of developing gum disease. This is due to an increased vulnerability to the damaging effects of plaque. Gum disease causes inflamed and often bleeding gums and can ultimately lead to tooth loss.

If the hormonal changes that happen during the months of pregnancy can mess with our dental health, what can years of perimenopause and postmenopause do?

Dental/Oral health Problems That Can Start In Perimenopause And Postmenopause

Here’s some of the common dental and oral health problems that women are most likely to experience during perimenopause and in their postmenopause years.

Teeth

• Tooth Discomfort – Mild pain and/or sensitivity in the teeth despite there being no signs of tooth decay or gum disease. Tooth discomfort is a common side effect of hormonal changes.
  
• Brittle/Chipping/Splitting Teeth – Teeth that are easily broken and become jagged and prone to decay.
  
• Discolouration/Staining – Yellowing of teeth due to the erosion of tooth enamel which also makes staining and decay more likely.
  
• Changes To Alignment – Teeth that have moved position due to gum disease, bone loss, or movement due to gaps left by extracted teeth.
  
• Loose Teeth – Loose wobbly teeth that move when being cleaned, when eating and/or when you wiggle them a little with your fingers (don’t do this though! it’s just an example of what I mean).

Gums

• Gum Tenderness – Soreness in the gums despite there being no signs of gum disease. Just like tooth discomfort, gum tenderness is a common side effect of hormonal changes.
  
• Gum Disease – Gum disease is characterised by sore, swollen, and often, bleeding gums. Eventually the gums recede leaving more of the tooth exposed to the risk of decay. Gum disease also undermines the stability of the teeth leaving them loose. Which increases the risk of tooth loss even if the teeth themselves are not decayed. In fact, gum disease is the biggest factor when it comes to tooth loss in adults. Hormonal changes increase the risk of developing gum disease. So women going through the stages of menopause are at a higher risk.

Mouth

• Dry Mouth/Sore Tongue – Dry mouth and sore tongue are common menopausal symptoms. The chances of experiencing one or both of these increases once menopause itself is reached. Not only is having a dry mouth unpleasant it can make speaking, eating and swallowing difficult. Having a persistently dry mouth also causes dental and oral health problems. This is because saliva helps to protect teeth and gums from the bacteria that causes tooth decay and gum disease. A shortage of saliva means that the bacteria has more chance of causing damage and also of making your breath smell bad.
  
• Bone Loss – Osteoporosis is another menopause related condition that can affect our teeth. Because it causes bone loss osteoporosis can have the same effect on the bones of the jaw as it does on the rest of our skeleton. Teeth are not just held in place by our gums. Our teeth are also firmly anchored into our jaw bones. So if the jaw bones lose density, become brittle or shrink it undermines their hold on the teeth. Leading to wobbly teeth and eventually tooth loss.

More About Gum Disease

I know that I’ve mentioned gum disease already but because it’s a huge factor for tooth loss I think it’s worth further mention. And not just because it leads to tooth loss and a deterioration in oral health. But because women going through the menopause stages have a greater risk of developing gum disease. And the gum disease is likely to be more severe than it is in non menopausal women. It’s not that we’ve all become lazy about cleaning our teeth, but simply because our hormonal balance has changed.

Here’s the thing that I find most worrying about gum disease. You can have healthy, white, strong teeth that look lovely when you smile, but if your gums are unhealthy you will lose them. 

When you think about it it’s actually quite frightening.

The good news is that gum disease, if caught early, can often be reversed. Even if it’s more advanced you can work with your dentist to at least keep it in check. 

If you have any of the following symptoms see your dentist as soon as possible.

• Red Sore Gums
• Swollen gums
• Pale gums that are dry and shiny
• Gums that bleed when you clean your teeth (or at any time)
• Receding gums
• Tooth sensitivity
• Loose teeth
• Gaps appearing between teeth

The sooner you make your dentist aware of any problems the sooner he/she can help you to get them sorted.

Protecting Your Dental Health

Most of us will probably have heard the quote that ‘Prevention is better than cure’ (Desiderius Erasmus – Dutch Philosopher and Theologian). Don’t worry, I’m not getting all philosophical here. I’m just pointing out that preventing dental and oral health problems is better than trying to fix the damage later.

By taking good care of our teeth and gums we can avoid a lot of pain and angst. Unfortunately despite our best efforts things often still go wrong. And our hormonal life won’t have helped either. But even if you already have problems with your teeth and/or gums don’t despair. You can still make a difference. With a little time and effort you can slow things down and help to prevent further problems arising.

Choosing The Right Dental Products

Wherever you shop there’s a wide range of dental products available. With so much choice it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. How do you know you’re buying the right thing? There’s a few basic must have products for keeping your teeth and gums in good condition. 

I’ve put together a short checklist for you

• Small soft headed toothbrush (manual or electric)
• Toothpaste that contains fluoride
• Dental floss for cleaning tooth inner edges
• Interdental brushes for cleaning the gums between the teeth
• Mouthwash that contains fluoride for freshening and ‘daytime’ protection

The brand of the product you buy is up to you. It might depend on advice from your dentist, your personal needs or preference, and also on your budget. Nonetheless, these are the basic tools that you need to keep your smile healthy.

There are also products specifically designed to help with gum disease, weakened tooth enamel and dry mouth. So if you know that you suffer with a particular problem choose a product that’s best suited to your needs.

Once you’ve armed yourself with the tools that you need to keep your teeth, gums and mouth healthy, be sure to keep your dental routine regular. 

Is Chewing Gum Good For Your Teeth?

I know this is yet another question, but as a gum chewer I wanted to know if I was causing harm to my teeth. I don’t chew gum all the time. However I know that some people find it annoying or think that it’s bad manners. But I chew gum when I’m concentrating on a task, which is often, and sometimes simply chew it to freshen my breath. Also years ago it helped me to stop smoking. So I’m rather fond of the habit and find it comforting. But I wondered whether I was damaging my teeth by chomping away and blowing the odd gum bubble.

This is what I found out

Takeaway

Natural aging plays a part in our dental health. With time and use our teeth can show their age. While age is more likely to cause cosmetic issues, rather than issues with the health of our teeth, it will depend upon a variety of factors. Our past and present dental hygiene habits, diet and general health will all have had an impact.

Changing hormone levels caused by the menopause process can, and do, have a negative effect on women’s teeth and oral health in general. The higher incidence of gum disease is probably the biggest contributory factor. If your gums are unhealthy your teeth are more prone to decay, sensitivity, pain and ultimately tooth loss. Gum disease also affects the way your teeth look. Teeth that have become loose and unaligned are unlikely to look the way you would like them to.

Even if your teeth are problematic, and your gum health isn’t so good, you can still make a difference with good dental/oral hygiene practices and regular visits to your dentist. Some dental problems can be fixed with treatment and others improved, or slowed down, by your own regular dental routine.

Don’t let worries about the way your teeth look stop you smiling and laughing. Remember smiling and laughing are good for you. It’s your smile that lights up your face, making yourself and others feel happy. I’ve never had perfect pearly white teeth but I’ve often been complimented on my smile. So smile, laugh and enjoy your life.