Have you noticed that your teeth feel more sensitive or that your gums have started bleeding while you brush or floss your teeth? If you’re experiencing new issues with your teeth or gums, they may be related to hormonal changes that occur during perimenopause and menopause.

“[Menopause] has impacted my whole entire life with brain fog, dry mouth, dry eyes, teeth and gum problems, and muscle pain,” one woman told ThisIsMenopause.

In this article, we’ll explore how menopause can affect your oral health and what you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

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Common Changes in Teeth, Gums, and the Mouth

Hormonal changes can affect oral health in several ways. The most common changes in the teeth, gums, and mouth during perimenopause include:

• Xerostomia (dry mouth) — As many as 50 percent of postmenopausal women may experience dry mouth due to reduced saliva production.
• Gum recession and sensitivity — Receding gums and other signs of gum disease, such as bleeding gums, may worsen during perimenopause.
• Tooth sensitivity — Teeth may become extra sensitive to temperature, acidity, or sugar. Hormone-related inflammation may also lead to toothaches.
• Shifting teeth and bite changes — Changes in bone density can cause teeth to move, impacting the jawbone. Age-related teeth changes were reported by 79 percent of women in a Delta Dental survey.
• Taste changes — Changes in taste may lead women to consume more sugary foods or drinks, which can negatively affect oral health.

Saliva helps protect your teeth and gums from bacteria. Reduced saliva production means less bacteria is removed from the mouth. This can contribute to a higher risk of cavities and periodontal disease (gum disease).

Low estrogen can also make you more likely to develop conditions that affect the oral mucosa, such as oral infections or burning mouth syndrome (BMS).

BMS is a condition that can cause painful burning or tingling feelings in the mouth. It most often affects the tongue, lips, and the palate (roof of the mouth). It can also affect how things taste, specifically causing foods and drinks to taste metallic or bitter.

One review found that between 18 percent and 33 percent of postmenopausal women experienced BMS.

Protecting Your Oral Health During Menopause

Practicing good oral hygiene and learning how to care for your teeth and gums can help you stay on top of your oral health during perimenopause and beyond.

Prioritize Your Oral Hygiene

Taking good care of your teeth and gums is always important. During menopause, it’s essential to prioritize your oral health.

Each day, you should be brushing your teeth twice — once in the morning and once at night. Flossing every day is also an important part of maintaining good oral health. Antibacterial mouthwash can help remove bacteria and may be especially helpful for those with dry mouth.

See Your Dentist Regularly

Scheduling regular appointments with your dentist is one of the best ways to make sure your teeth and gums stay healthy. This is because many oral and dental health issues are spotted during standard cleanings.

Finding problems early allows you to treat them before they become more serious. Depending on your situation, your dentist may recommend you schedule cleanings between three and six months apart, rather than the standard two cleanings per year.

Choose Toothpaste That Contains Fluoride

Fluoride toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening enamel — the outer, protective layer of teeth. Your dentist may also recommend you receive fluoride treatments to further protect your teeth from cavities.

For those experiencing dry mouth, fluoride can be especially helpful, as it helps to combat the risk of tooth decay linked to a lack of saliva. Your dentist may suggest you:

• Brush your teeth with a tooth gel, prescription fluoride toothpaste, or toothpaste that includes betaine to neutralize bacteria.
• Wear fitted fluoride trays at night.
• Put a fluoride gel on your teeth before going to bed.
• Rinse with chlorhexidine once weekly.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

If hormonal changes have left you with dry mouth, keeping hydrated can help ease discomfort and support oral health.

Keeping a refillable water bottle with you can be helpful for boosting your water intake. Having water or another sugar-free drink at your fingertips that you can frequently sip allows you to restore moisture to your mouth when you need to.

Other strategies for managing dry mouth include:

• Using sugar-free sucking candy or gum, especially those with xylitol, which may help prevent tooth decay
• Using xylitol-containing saliva substitutes
• Keeping your lips moisturized
• Adding a humidifier to your bedroom to keep air moist at night
• Trying to breathe through your nose instead of your mouth

Certain foods and products can worsen symptoms of dry mouth. Avoid or limit alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, overly acidic or sugary foods, and drying medications such as antihistamines and decongestants.

Follow a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet includes foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D and calcium, in particular, can help keep teeth and other bones of the mouth strong.

To promote bone health, focus on leafy greens and dairy products like milk and yogurt. For a balanced diet, make sure to include a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Hormone Therapy and Oral Health

Since estrogen plays an essential role in oral and dental health, researchers are studying whether menopause hormone therapy (also called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) may be beneficial for oral health. So far, research is limited.

One study looked at postmenopausal women who received estrogen or estrogen plus progesterone treatment for osteoporosis. Compared to women who didn’t receive treatment, women who did had less gum recession and tissue loss around teeth. Women who received hormone therapy also had less gum bleeding due to gingivitis.

Another small study found that hormone therapy increased estrogen levels in saliva and reduced dry mouth symptoms among women who had gone through menopause.

More research is needed into the effects of hormone therapy on oral health changes caused by menopause.

Talk to your doctor if you’re interested in hormone therapy for menopause symptoms. They can help you determine what treatments are best for you.

When To See a Dentist or Healthcare Provider

Certain oral symptoms should be evaluated by a dentist. See your provider if you experience:

• Persistent dry mouth
• New or worse bleeding of the gums while brushing
• Shifting teeth or teeth that feel unstable
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Uncomfortable, burning sensation in the mouth or persistent metallic taste

Tooth and gum issues can seem minor, but it’s important to catch issues when they’re small, before they worsen. Regular dental checkups can help you maintain the best possible oral health.