Dental problems In the Menopause
Dental problems in the menopause can range from experiencing a drier mouth, gum and teeth issues, burning mouth syndrome, tongue health imbalances, loss of taste and salt cravings.
Why do we get dental problems during the Menopause?
With our hormones changing so much during the menopause, our oestrogen levels will also be fluctuating and falling. This has a direct impact on our mucus membranes, which are tasked with producing the correct balance of fluid in our bodies and in the mouth area. When the mouth produces less mucus, or saliva, it can challenge our ability to chew, swallow our food efficiently, and even talk with ease, as the mouth itself is drier. A dry mouth can also cause bacteria to stick to our teeth and gums, which can create even more sensitivity, as well as bleeding when brushing and receding gums.
What is burning mouth syndrome?
Burning mouth syndrome is called as such, as it feels like your mouth is on fire. It can be caused by two factors; nutrient deficiencies and a high-stress lifestyle. Either way, if we’re not feeding our body a high amount of nourishment in the menopause, or our stress is causing our body to not absorb nutrients properly, it may communicate this via a flare up of this syndrome.
When our adrenals are overworked from a high-stress lifestyle; adrenal fatigue, low moods and sleep problems can set into our body due to an overactive thyroid gland, which interestingly, has an effect on our taste buds. The taste of food is dulled compared to our usual experience.
This could also happen because when we have frequent night sweats and hot flushes, we tend to lose a higher amount of mineral salts from the body, and if we do not replace them with foods that contain mineral salts, we will have excessive salt cravings.
Lastly, we can see some changes to our tongue health in the menopause because our ability to repair our cellular health can slow down, which can affect the appearance of the tongue, as well as painful grooves on the tongue that can become very sore.
What do dental problems feel like?
Dental problems can feel very uncomfortable and frustrating, after all, we use our mouth in every moment of every day! It is important to remember that dental problems will ease off when we enter into postmenopause.
What can help with my dental problems?
The great news is, there is so much we can do to ensure that our dental health can restore itself in the menopause. It is just a matter of being more conscious about the simple things, such as our level of hydration, nutrition, quality of life and mindful relaxation.
Popular remedies for dental problems
- Stay hydrated, a lot of dental problems can be avoided by drinking lots of water
- Sea buckthorn oil is great for any ‘dry’ mouth symptoms
- Seek help from your dentist regarding gum and teeth health
- Use natural toothpaste that is free of chemicals, containing Echinacea, Neem, Aloe vera
- Bleeding, sensitive gums can often be helped by addressing nutritional deficiencies. If you wish to be checked for deficiencies, consult with your GP
- Consume wholesome foods, rich in B vitamins, iron, calcium and magnesium
- Add high quality mineral salt to your food intake i.e. pink himalayan or sea salt
If you need further support and guidance for the menopause, make an appointment to have a discussion with your doctor.
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Disclaimer:
Become™️ has a wonderful team of experts who all helped in the writing of this content. The opinions expressed within this page are the opinions of many people we asked, and from information we researched online. Become™️ is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this page. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
