Menopause and Oral Health: 6 Symptoms to Watch For

Menopausal oral symptoms are caused by biological changes that can impact oral health, such as hormonal alterations. Proper education is crucial to understanding these shifts. Proactive steps can provide the highest oral defence and assist you in retaining your radiant smile during this vital stage of your life.
Let’s look at six likely symptoms of oral health changes related to menopause and try to understand them better. 

At the end of this, you will know how to prevent, treat, or manage them better.

1. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

Do you lick your lips repeatedly because your mouth just feels dry all the time? This condition, also called dry mouth or xerostomia, is more prevalent during menopause.

Why Does It Happen?

The menopausal phase is mainly about estrogen decline, which has a greater effect than we think. It can even affect the salivary glands.

Saliva is crucial for oral hygiene, as it helps cleanse the organic material and neutralise the acids in the oral cavity. It also keeps the mouth moist. Decreased saliva production results in a sticky and dry oral environment.

What Problems Can It Cause?

• If there is not enough saliva production, there is also a lack of lubrication, resulting in bacteria buildup along with a range of unpleasant scents.
• Saliva acts as a barrier to bacterial invasion. Lack of adequate saliva will lead to significantly increased plaque (a film of bacteria that accumulates on the teeth) accumulation and cavity development rates.
• Harmful bacteria thrive in a dry environment, increasing the possibility of gum infections.

How Can You Prevent Or Manage It?

• Make sure to drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day to remain hydrated.
• Avoid alcohol-based mouthwash, as it aggravates dryness. Try to always use an alcohol-free mouthwash.
• Chewing sugar-free gum can promote saliva production.
• If there is excessive dryness, make sure to schedule a visit with a dentist. They may prescribe special oral sprays or other substances that can act as saliva replacements or other treatments.
• One method described in Ayurveda to cure dry mouth is oil pulling. Thanks to its benefits, this procedure is gaining widespread popularity nowadays. Swish about half a tablespoon of coconut or sesame oil in your mouth for 3–20 minutes.

By recognising dry mouth and treating it beforehand, you can avoid numerous complications in the early stages.

2. Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease)

Do you experience bleeding gums when brushing or flossing? Or do you have tender or swollen gums? If yes, then consider the above symptoms as simple indicators of gum disease. If you are not seeking medical help on time, there is a chance that the condition may worsen.

Why Does It Happen?

After menopause, the body’s estrogen levels decrease, weakening the blood vessels of the gums. This low level of estrogen also increases the chances of inflammation or infection. Estrogen changes can also affect how the body reacts to plaque.

What should you watch for?

• If you notice signs of inflammation in your gums, such as red lines, swollen spots, or tender areas, seek medical help as soon as possible.
• Bleeding gums upon brushing: This is the classic sign indicating a person is suffering from gum disease.
• If you have persistent bad breath, it is an indication of gum infection that seems dangerous.
• If your gums have begun to recede, keep a close look on your teeth as the recession of the gums exposes a greater part of your teeth.

How Can You Prevent Or Manage It?

• Two times a day, it is recommended that you use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your teeth. Soft-bristled toothbrushes ensure that there is minimal damage to both your gums and enamel. This tip is particularly useful for those whose gums tend to be more sensitive, perhaps due to hormonal changes.
• Also, make sure to floss at least once a day to control plaque buildup between your teeth.
• Use toothpaste designed for gum health.
• See your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups.
• Ayurvedic experts advise the use of twigs that possess medicinal properties to clean your teeth. Neem is one such plant, having antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight gum disease and tartar buildup. Drink herbal tea such as chamomile, green tea, and liquorice root, which contain antibacterial properties that help fight the buildup of bacteria in your mouth.

Gum disease may be painless, but it can progress if not treated quickly. However, with proper gum care, you can stop this condition from worsening. The prevention of chronic gum disease during menopause starts with close observation and seeking medical help as soon as possible. 

3. Tooth Sensitivity

Have you ever tried taking a hot cup of coffee or an ice cream and shouting because of the extreme pain that shoots through your mouth? That pain may be a signal that you should be aware and careful of a phenomenon termed tooth sensitivity.

Why does it happen?

The extreme shifts in hormones due to menopause have a negative effect on the outer protective layer of teeth, also known as the enamel.

When the enamel breaks down, the other softer part gets exposed, and it has tiny tubules penetrating deep until it reaches the nerves. Hence, the teeth become exposed to extreme sensations like hot or cold foods.

What Should You Watch For?

• Sharp pain occurs after spicy, sweet, cold, and hot beverages or food is enjoyed.
• Lingering discomfort and sensitivity that lasts even after the stimulus is removed.

How Can You Prevent Or Manage It?

• Special types of toothpaste are made for people with sensitive teeth. Make sure to use them after proper medical advice.
• Steer clear from sodas and even citrus fruits.
• Consider fluoride treatments or dental sealants, which can strengthen enamel.
• You can ask your dentist for other options, such as bonding or protective coatings.
• The application of some of the herbs listed in Ayurveda could help manage teeth sensitivity.
• Clove oil can soothe nerves and relieve tooth pain. You can chew clove or apply clove oil mixed with olive oil.
• Turmeric mixed with salt and mustard oil can be applied to the gums twice a da

Taking proper care of sensitisation can allow you to indulge in enjoying your favourite treat without discomfort. 

After all, during menopause, you have to keep yourself happy and emotionally healthy. So, such treats can elevate your mood and mindset. Also, make sure to keep a check on your diet, too.

4. Changes In Taste And Smell

If your go-to meals don’t appear to have the same flavour, or if they seem off to you, it’s probably the hormonal changes that are caused by menopause. Such hormone fluctuations are quite capable of altering your sense of taste and smell.

Why Does It Happen?

As with everything else, taste and smell have receptors that can be affected by hormones. Estrogen disruption can affect these receptors’ normal functions. This can lead to shifts in how you perceive different aromas and flavours, leading to taste and smell changes during menopause.

What’s The Impact?

• Reduced enjoyment of food: The individuals suffering from the above conditions experience a diminished appetite and less desire for food than before.
• Nutritional challenges: When this appetite is suppressed, someone is very likely to become a selective eater, resulting in imbalances in the diet. 

How Can You Manage It?

• Dehydration can worsen taste alterations, so ensure you drink plenty of water.
• Try flavouring foods with herbs and spices to enhance the flavours and taste naturally.
• A diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins should be your goal.
• The use of herbs like ashwagandha (Indian winter cherry), satavari (asparagus), and yastimadhu (liquorice) can help regulate hormone fluctuations, which are the prime cause of changes in taste and smell. 

Food is likely one of life’s greatest pleasures. Adopting these minor changes can help make taking food a more pleasurable experience.

5. Oral Candidiasis (Thrush)

A fungal infection commonly termed thrush is expected to show more after menopause. Red spots or patches of whitish colour that appear on the tongue and inside the mouth are common in this condition.

Why Does It Happen?

Owing to the fact that menopause signifies a change of life period in women, a drop in certain hormones can also increase the risk of developing the condition. Reduced salivary secretion, along with saliva compositional changes, could also provide an environment suitable for the growth of Candida fungus.

What Should You Watch For?

• Discolourations: Red and white patches could develop not only on the tongue but also on the inner aspect of the cheeks and even on the soft palate.
• Pain and soreness: This may lead to pain while eating and even during speech.
• Difficulty in eating: Trouble in swallowing could be an early indication of a serious disease and should be treated promptly.

How Can You Prevent Or Manage It?

• To reduce the chances of developing thrush and other fungal infections due to the greater risk of oral candidiasis, it is important to maintain hygiene of the oral cavity. Follow the recommended dental care practices daily, and these include flossing and brushing.
• Lower the intake of sweet foods. The sugar can worsen the fungal attack.
• If symptoms are alarming, visit your dentist for treatment, which may include antifungal medications.
• In Ayurveda, the herbs described to fight this infection have anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties and can stimulate digestive health along with boosting immunity.
• Garlic has excellent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
• Dried ginger powder offers anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and digestive tract-stimulating properties.

6. Increased Risk Of Cavities

Do you notice dark patches or increased aches in your teeth? Be cautious since cavities are more prone to occur during your menopause phase.

Why Does It Happen?

Due to the natural downturn in estrogen during menopause, a woman’s susceptibility to tooth decay increases, making the teeth more sensitive.

What Should You Watch For?

• Decay signs include spotting dark patches or holes in tooth structure:
• Sweet foods will result in discomfort and pain; this one is well known and a classic symptom.
• Persistent discomfort and chronic tooth pain that require medical attention.

How Can You Prevent Or Manage It?

• Brush your teeth every day and use fluorinated toothpaste in the morning and at night to keep your teeth clean.
• Floss regularly, at least a few times a week, to clear out food particles that may be trapped between teeth surfaces.
• Regular dentist trips as a preventative measure should help you spot cavity growth and track its changes to treat the tooth early on.
• According to Ayurveda, Triphala [a combination of three herbs (Indian gooseberry, Terminalia bellirica, Chebulic Myrobalan) can safeguard teeth and oral health. Regular use of Triphala mouthwash and including this in your diet can help fight plaque and cavities. You can also try mixing turmeric and salt to make a natural toothpaste and apply it. It can combat inflammation and infection.
   

So, as long as good habits are cultivated together with the regular effort of tooth maintenance, the chances of someone getting cavities are low.

If you are curious to know more about dental health tips during menopause, read Menopause and Dental Health Guide: Tips for Maintaining Strong Teeth.

Not just oral health, menopause can sometimes present many challenges. Proper knowledge and the right steps are the mantra to tackle these. The vital part is that menopause is highly personalised, so what works for others may not work for you. This is where a tailor-made management protocol holds the key. 

If you feel like you need a helping hand in managing menopause symptoms, considering your unique needs, Nirva Health strives to make it easier for you with our top specialists. We will set you up with a wellness plan that is made to help you manage and deal with the symptoms of menopause. 

We invite you to be a part of the customised service we are providing for our clients. Here is what one of our happy clients said about us:

“Menopause brought challenges I wasn’t prepared for, but Nirva Health provided the support I needed…. 

Wrapping It Up

Menopause may cause many changes in life, but it is possible to cope with it if a woman is informed and prepared. Your mouth matters as much as your body, and a little bit of prevention and care can make a huge difference.

To preserve your teeth, follow a strict dental maintenance plan, drink enough water, and attend regular dental appointments. This new life stage can be quite enjoyable. Treat this period as if it were ideal for focusing on self-care and give enough attention to your teeth, too. Always keep in mind that your smile is a sign of your wellness and health!