Menopause can bring on dental problems, but you can protect your mouth
Hot flashes and night sweats are among the most infamous menopause maladies. But you might want to pay attention to your teeth and gums, too.“I’m not sure that people are aware of this,” said Dr. Thomas Sollecito, chief of oral medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Hormonal changes — mainly a sharp drop in estrogen — can reduce bone density and saliva production and harm your gums. All of that can affect your teeth.Oral care experts say there are ways to counteract these effects and keep your menopausal mouth healthy.Menopause, perimenopause and dental symptomsMenopause happens when a woman goes 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. But some of the hormone-related dental problems may begin during perimenopause, when the ovaries gradually make less estrogen, said Dr. Maiara Hister-Cockrell, a dentist with the University of Texas Health San Antonio.One of the biggest concerns is less saliva, which Sollecito called "one of the most important fluids in our body.”When the saliva flow slows, it can…
23 Sep 04:00 · iNFOnews.ca