Menopause and Your Teeth

Research shows that as you approach menopause, your gums and teeth need extra care!

Typical signs of menopause that you might experience include your periods becoming irregular, your sleep isn't great and the calendar is inching toward 50. Ask your dentist at your next cleaning appointment whether he/she detects any signs of menopause involving your oral health. Dentists say they often notice that as women approach menopause, their gum tissues becomes more swollen or there's unusual bleeding.

Its been noted that menopausal women may have a higher risk of gum disease caused by plaque, which is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth. You already know that you need to remove plaque by daily brushing and flossing and regular visits to the dentist to get rid of plaque build-up. This is especially important as you approach menopause.

The hormonal fluctuations preceding menopause can make gums even more sensitive to plaque. Left untreated, plaque irritates and inflames gums. As the disease progresses, your gums separate from your teeth and form little pockets where more bacteria grows. Dental x-rays can also show something about the health of your bones. Loose teeth could also be a sign of thinning bones.

There are some cases of gum disease that your dentist can monitor for you, but if the gum disease progresses, it is very important to seek the help of a specialist (periodontist) such as Dr. Sutor who manages a variety of gum disease conditions every day. An easy way to decide whether you have a type of condition that needs to be managed by a periodontist is to ask your dentist about your "gum score" which is determined by your dentist using a periodontal probe or ruler to measure the pockets around your teeth. This should be done annually! If you have other questions about periodontal disease and how and why it is important to see a periodontist, call us at 812-333-4550 and talk to one of our experienced team members, visit our website at www.sutordds.com or check out our facebook page which always has lots of valuable information.

Make sure you have your dental appointment every 6 months on your list of New Year's resolutions this year! It's an easy one to keep!

* Some information in this article obtained from health.lifegoesstrong.com *