Oral Osteoporosis? Menopause Mouth Health Tips

No part of our body escapes the changes that perimenopause and menopause bring on, not even our mouths.  It's often underestimated in importance, as there are many menopause symptoms that are more troublesome to deal with and more widely talked about.  Oral health, however, is really important to maintain as we age and want to keep hold of our teeth for as long as possible; being menopausal can make you feel old, but not many things say “you're getting on a bit” louder than having dentures.

Of course, having dentures is nothing to be ashamed of, but it does add to your wellbeing routine and adds a financial burden that we can stave off for as long as possible with good oral healthcare – and living a healthy lifestyle overall.  We often see our mouths as a separate health concern to the rest of our bodies simply because we have a dedicated healthcare professional – our dentist – for that while concerns about the rest of us leads us to the GP, whether it's an earache or an ingrown toenail.

We need to start seeing our oral health more holistically, and the most important mindset change here is around our bone density.  This is vital in oral health because our teeth are rooted in the bone of our upper and lower jaw.  Sure, we may get a lot of exercise in this area through chatting with our friends, but we still need to be on top of the underlying integrity of that bone in order to stop our teeth getting loose, leading to tooth loss and the spread of gum disease.

We know that the hormone changes in perimenopause have a significant negative effect on our bone density, so to combat that we might increase our calcium and vitamin D intake to help support the formation of new bone.  We include magnesium, bamboo silica extract, vitamins D3 and K2 and zinc in the MenoShake because these all support bone maintenance and production in a nutritionally balanced way.

Oestrogen levels dropping off is what leads to vaginal dryness, but it's not just the membranes of our intimate areas that are prone to drying out.  Our gums, oral tissue and even eyes are likely to get dryer – in our mouths we'll notice a drop in saliva production which is totally normal in menopause.  The effect of a dry mouth on our oral health is huge, and can cause anything from bad breath to gum disease and even cavities.  Saliva provides a natural barrier for our gums against bacteria, so a dry mouth means lower defences against tooth decay.

We can help combat the effects of dry mouth by quitting smoking (if we haven't already), managing the side effects of medications which may cause dry mouth and by staying hydrated.  If we have the hydration in our bodies we can produce the saliva we are able to, but if we're not adequately hydrated we aren't giving ourselves the chance.  There are also products available for people who live with Sjögren's Syndrome (a condition that causes chronic dry mouth) and for those undergoing chemotherapy or some forms of radiotherapy which affects the saliva glands.  Special toothpastes and mouth sprays are a good tool, as is artificial saliva (yes, it sounds horrible but it can make a really big difference to your oral health).

Speak to your dentist about these products and which ones are right for you, as well as for tips on brushing habits and other oral health advice that can help you stay on top of this vital area of health through perimenopause and beyond.