Menopause & Your Mouth

By Dr. Laura Schmidt

As a dentist, I see it all the time, women in their 40’s and 50’s showing up with sudden gum problems, a spike in cavities, dry mouth, or even a wiggly tooth. The look on their faces is always the same: confusion. “I’ve never had a cavity before!” “Why are my gums bleeding all of a sudden?” “ My mouth feels like the Sahara-what’s happening?”

Then I watched the M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause, and there it was: the stat that stopped me in my tracks.

Nearly 30% of women lose at least one tooth within five years of entering menopause.

Let that sink in.

No one tells women this-not their doctors, not their friends, and until now not their dentist! But as the documentary so powerfully points out, menopause affects every part of the body.., including the mouth.

So what exactly is going on?

When estrogen levels drop (which happens sharply during perimenopause and menopause), it affects bone density. And guess what your teeth sit in? Bone. Less estrogen means the jawbone can start to lose strength which can make teeth loosen over time.

Add in:

Dry Mouth which increases cavity risk

Gum Recession and inflammation

And sometimes even Burning Mouth Syndrome (yes, that’s for real-and very uncomfortable)

The Good News?

Once you know what’s happening, you can do something about it! Keeping up with regular hygiene visits and treating early gum disease can go a long way in preventing tooth loss. And just having someone say “Yes, this is real, and it’s linked to menopause” can be incredibly validating.

So, if you’re in this season of life and your mouth feels different-don’t ignore it! Talk to your dentist (hopefully someone like me!) who understands the full picture.

And to all the women out there navigating hot flashes, brain fog, sleep drama and receding gums…you’re warriors. Absolute warriors. But if anyone’s built to handle it all with grace, strength and a great smile-it’s women.