Oral Health & Menopause

Menopause is a major life stage. It changes your body. It can also change your mouth. At Larkham House Dental Practice, we want you to understand the link between menopause and oral health — and what you can do to protect your smile.

What is menopause?

Menopause marks the end of menstrual cycles — typically defined as 12 months without a period.
It usually happens between ages 45 and 55, though timing varies.
It’s driven by a decline in oestrogen and progesterone production.
These hormonal shifts affect many body systems — including the mouth.

How menopause affects oral health

Because oral tissues (gums, mucosa, salivary glands) have oestrogen receptors, lower hormone levels can directly influence the mouth.

Here are common oral changes women may notice:

Oral symptom	What happens	Why it matters
Dry mouth (xerostomia)	Saliva flow may decline, mouth feels dry or sticky	Saliva cleanses the mouth and buffers acid; low flow raises risk of decay and infection
Burning mouth sensation	A burning, tingling or “hot” feeling in tongue, cheeks or gums	Known as burning mouth syndrome; more common during menopause
Gum changes / periodontal disease	Gums may become more inflamed, bleed more easily, or recede	Hormonal changes can heighten inflammation and compromise gum health
Bone (jaw) density loss / tooth stability	Jaw bone may lose density, teeth may loosen	Menopause is linked to systemic bone loss; jaw bone can be affected too
Altered taste & sensitivity	You might notice taste changes or increased sensitivity	Hormonal and salivary changes can affect taste perception and nerve sensitivity

On top of these, menopause can influence habits and risk factors:

Changes in diet (cravings, more sugary foods)
Increased stress, anxiety or poor sleep
Higher risk of teeth grinding / clenching
Use of medications (e.g. osteoporosis drugs) that may affect dental treatment plans

Why this matters: Oral health + overall wellbeing

Your mouth is not isolated — it’s part of your body. Poor oral health can contribute to systemic inflammation, infections, and reduced quality of life. Changes in gums, bone, or saliva during menopause can make maintaining oral health more challenging.

Also, general menopause symptoms (sleep disruption, mood changes, fatigue) can reduce one’s capacity or motivation to maintain good oral hygiene.

Moreover, some studies suggest that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help reduce gum disease risk in some women. But HRT is not a substitute for good oral care.

What you can do: Tips to protect your oral health

Here are practical steps you can take:

Tell your dental team

Let us know you’re going through menopause or using HRT. We can tailor your care.

Hydrate and stimulate saliva

Drink water throughout the day. Use sugar-free chewing gum (if suitable) or saliva substitutes to help with dryness.

Use gentle, effective oral hygiene

Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste
Don’t rinse with water after brushing (so fluoride stays active)
Clean between teeth daily (floss or interdental brushes)
Replace your toothbrush every 3 months

Limit sugar, alcohol & smoking

These worsen dry mouth, decay risk, and gum disease.

Watch your diet & nutrition

Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D for bone health. Avoid frequent snacking on sugary foods.

Manage stress, sleep, and jaw habits

Practice stress relief (walking, meditation). If you grind teeth, ask us about a night guard.

Visit us more often if needed

We may recommend more frequent checkups or cleanings during this period of increased risk

Coordinate with your GP / menopause specialist

Discuss HRT, bone health, and other systemic issues. We can coordinate care (especially if you take medications that affect oral treatment).

What to expect from Larkham House Dental Practice

A supportive, understanding environment

Assessments that consider your menopause status

Tailored preventive advice

Treatment plans that account for low bone density, dry mouth, and sensitivity

Collaboration with medical professionals if needed

You deserve optimal oral health at every stage of life — including during menopause

Menopause brings real changes in your mouth. Awareness, prevention, and partnership with your dental team can help you maintain a healthy smile. On 18 October (Menopause Awareness Day), we encourage every woman to check in on her oral health — and reach out if she sees changes or has concerns.

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What do they say about Larkham House?

“Thank to the dentist, dental nurse and reception staff for their care and friendliness on our last visit. Highly recommend this dental practice.”

Angela

“Great team and excellent service. Always very helpful and honest.”

Claire

“After being referred here by my old dentist for a dental implant. I ended up switching to here. So friendly, great what they do, easy to get an appointment, plenty of parking.”

Thomas

“I highly recommend Larkham House dentistry. As a very anxious person & fear of the dentist, they really look after you. I had Dr V Giddani for few visits what a caring Dentist he...”

MC

“We spent some time yesterday at Larkham House Dental Practice and received 100% treatment and care. The Reception Team, Dentist and Hygienist were excellent and we came away feeling very blessed. We look forward...”

Peter

“Never been disappointed there. Staff is friendly and they actually care. My dentist marko roberta (i think she's called), is so friendly and makes an appointment a breeze. The 2 people in the reception...”

Marco

“Larkham House are a fantastic dental surgery .They are always very friendly , helpful and caring and they always go the extra mile to help you .I don't think you would find a better...”

Julie

Laura Johnson

19:36 24 Oct 22

Very friendly staff! I suffer with anxiety and every time I have an appointment the dentist is very patient and goes through everything to make sure I am OK and not too nervous. The dentist nurses, particularly Rachel is amazing! Especially with my children when they come in makes me feel at ease!

Teresa Floyd

08:16 21 Aug 22

Had a referral from Seven Trees as I had severe dental painI am a very nervous patient however the service I received was outstanding from the minute I arrived to the minute I left and no more tooth painThank you so much

Christine Boyle

20:10 07 Apr 22

Had an appointment with Clohe yesterday and I can't praise her enough. So thorough and nothing was too much trouble for her. She was very caring and cosiderat e I felt relaxed and nothing was too much of a problem for her too deal with. My appointment was not rushed .

Adam Davie

19:59 10 Oct 21

From the offset call confirming my appointment this dental practice experience was five star compared to dentist based Midlands . Front desk staff / nurses excellent giving me the reassurance that I was booked in with a great dentist as I personally have a fear of the dentist being in my late 30s . After my review etc with the dentist it was forgone conclusion that a full on extraction was required the dentist himself was unbelievable reassuring excellent service total professionalism which I haven’t come across recently, great team whom care about the patient journey I most certainly didn’t just feel like a number under their care . Thank you to all staff at Larkham House Dental Practice.

Anthony Grave

20:07 12 May 21

Very good

brian rogers

16:08 18 Mar 21

On the 18/3/21 I had 2 extractions From the outset the staff were very friendly helpful and very professional the Dentist was brilliant I never felt hardly any of the extractions I will definitely use a again excellent service thank you...

Oral Health & Menopause

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