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Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life can significantly impact your oral health, including your mouth, teeth, and gums. Menopause is a well-known phase for these changes, but other stages like puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause also cause a range of oral health challenges.

Nearly 20% of Australian women* don’t realise how menopause affects their dental health. During perimenopause and menopause, fluctuating hormone levels bring about significant changes in oral health. Hormones like oestrogen and progesterone play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy mouth. As these hormone levels decrease, it can lead to several dental issues, including:

1. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia): Hormonal changes can result in reduced saliva production, leading to dry mouth. Saliva plays an important role in neutralising acids and protecting against cavities.
2. Inflamed Gums: Hormonal fluctuations may make your gums more sensitive, prone to inflammation, and susceptible to bleeding. This is a condition often referred to as menopausal gingivostomatitis.
3. Altered taste and oral discomfort: Decreased oestrogen and progesterone change taste perception, making certain foods taste different or unpleasant. Some women may also experience a burning sensation in the mouth, known as burning mouth syndrome.
4. Bite changes: Lower oestrogen levels can contribute to bone resorption in the jaw, potentially altering bite alignment.
5. Bone density and tooth loss: Decreased oestrogen levels affect bone density, including the jawbone that supports your teeth. This can increase the risk of tooth mobility and even tooth loss.

Being proactive with your oral health

Taking proactive steps to manage your oral health during periods of hormonal change can help prevent long-term dental issues. Here’s how you can stay ahead:

• Regular dental check-ups: One in four women (25%) only visit the dentist when something hurts or an obvious issue arises. Make dental check-ups a regular part of your health habits, especially during perimenopause and menopause. Professional check-ups can detect and address issues early, preventing serious long-term problems.
• At home oral hygiene: Around one in four women brush their teeth only once a day, and less than a quarter (24%) floss daily. Maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine by brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and using floss or interdental brushes can help maintain your oral health.
• Saliva stimulation: Chewing sugar-free gum and staying hydrated can help alleviate dry mouth symptoms.
• Diet and nutrition: Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to support bone health and overall oral wellbeing.
• Discuss Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) with your dentist: Inform your dentist if you’re undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other hormonal treatments. They can provide guidance on how to manage any potential oral health implications that may arise.

To keep your oral health in check during hormonal changes, take a proactive approach. Let Women’s Health Week be your cue to put your wellbeing first and stay on top of your dental care. Book an appointment today to speak to your dentist about how you can manage your symptoms and maintain your oral wellbeing.

 

 *Are Media Healthonomics Dental Health Survey 2024, women aged 25-54
 ^ IBIS World Research 2024: Australian Female population 18 & Older: 10.5 Million

This year Dental Health Week takes place from the 5th to the 11th of August, focusing on the importance of taking steps to care for your teeth and gum health.

Most of us know how important it is to take care of our teeth. However, it’s just as important to be aware of and care for the structures which surround and support them. Gums play a vital role as they safeguard the ligaments and bones that secure our teeth in place. Even though they’re not visible, without healthy gums, our teeth lack a stable foundation, leading to potential tooth loss. This underscores why gum disease remains a significant contributor to dental issues.

 

“Gum disease, or periodontitis is the most common non-infectious disease in the world affecting approximately 743 million people globally. It is a disease that doesn’t usually cause pain or have any clear symptoms until patients have lost so much bone and gum that their teeth start wobbling in their mouths and in some cases they even fall out! It is for these reasons that getting your dentist, therapist or hygienist to check your gums during your regular exam is so critical. Regular checks will make sure any changes are picked up early enough that you don’t risk having your teeth fall out because of advanced gum disease.” Dr Troy McGowan – Periodontist

 

What is gum disease?

Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, affects millions of people worldwide and stems from bacteria residing in dental plaque. Gum disease starts as red, swollen and inflamed gums (gingivitis) which in susceptible patients can eventually develop into periodontitis.

1 in 4 Australians have gum disease also known as periodontitis*.

 

But I brush my teeth every day, how could I develop gum disease?

Although everyone has bacteria in their mouth not everyone develops gum disease. This is because in certain individuals, the body’s immune response can become overly reactive, leading to inflammation, swelling, and eventual irreversible gum and bone damage. This heightened sensitivity to dental plaque is known as susceptibility to periodontal disease and is why it is so important to have your gums checked regularly by an oral health professional.

 

Some people brush and floss twice a day and still get gum disease because of how reactive their gums are to the presence of bacteria. Other patients might brush once a day and floss every other day and never have any gum issues (but will likely have other tooth problems like decay). This susceptibility to gum disease can change with age, stress and other lifestyle factors and it is this variability that makes having a regular exam to check for gum disease so important.

 

There are five health conditions linked to our gums.

Inflammation of the gums can affect inflammation in other parts of the body and can affect conditions such as:

1. Heart Disease- There is strong evidence linking severe gum disease and heart diseases due to oral bacteria entering the bloodstream and an overall increase in the body’s inflammation.
2. Diabetes- There is a two-way relationship between gum disease and diabetes. Diabetes can increase an individual’s risk of developing severe gum disease, just as gum disease may negatively affect blood sugar levels.
3. Alzheimer’s Disease- There are early links suggesting that severe gum disease (Periodontitis) may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline due to oral bacteria and an overall increase in inflammation.
4. Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes- There is evidence of an association between severe gum disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low pre-term birth weights. This is thought to occur due to an overall increase in inflammation and gum disease bacteria traveling from the mouth to the placenta.
5. Inflammatory Bowel Disease – There is early evidence indicating a link between severe gum disease and inflammatory bowel diseases.

 

6 things you can do to look after your gums.

There are a few things you can do to care for your gums, most of them centred around the removal of plaque:

• Focus on brushing where gums and teeth meet– angle the brush at 45° to clean beneath the gum line thoroughly.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or an electric oscillating head toothbrush – these will clean your teeth more efficiently and effectively.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste– this will help protect your tooth enamel.
• Replace your toothbrush regularly- worn bristles don’t clean as well, leaving more plaque behind and increasing the risk of your body over-reacting to the bacterial load.
• Clean between your teeth with floss and/or interdental brushes- this will help to remove food and bacteria from nearly half the surface area of your teeth where brushing can’t reach.
• Keep an eye out for any bleeding gums while you are brushing and flossing- bleeding gums or blood in your saliva after brushing or flossing may indicate early gingivitis or periodontitis. Rough fillings or tartar buildup under the gums can worsen gingivitis and it will usually only get worse unless you have a dentist, oral health therapist or hygienist address the actual cause of the issue.

 

If it’s been more than 6 months since you last saw a dentist for a check-up, prioritise your oral health by scheduling an appointment today. Book an appointment and ensure your teeth and gums are receiving the care they deserve.

 

* https://www.teeth.org.au/gum-diseases

Dental Health Week 2024

Dental Health Week 2024 is fast approaching and to celebrate nib Dental Care is giving all kids the opportunity to win an electric toothbrush and show their teeth some love. Download and enter our Dental Health Week colouring-in competition for a chance to win.

Let’s Talk About Gums

Running from 5-11 August, Dental Health Week is a great reminder you to book your family in for their regular dental check-ups. Regular check-ups are important to help identify early signs of tooth decay and reduce major dental work in the future.

nib Dental Care centres are open extended hours and weekends with appointments that suit your schedule.

Book an appointment at your local nib Dental Care centre and don’t forget to check if your kids are eligible for over $1000 in free* dental thanks to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

Download your Colouring-In Competition here

Terms & Conditions

1. Instructions on how to enter this promotion form part of the terms and conditions of entry. By participating in this competition, entrants agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
2. The promoter is Pacific Smiles Group Limited (ABN 42 103 087 449) of 6 Molly Morgan Drive, East Maitland NSW 2323.
3. Entry is open to all Australian residents aged 18 years and under. Employees (and their immediate families) of the Promoter and its related companies are not eligible to enter.
4. The promotion commences at 12:01am AEST on 29^th July 2024 and closes at 11.59pm AEST on 18^th August 2024 (Promotion Period).
5. To enter, Eligible Entrants must complete step 6 during the Promotion Period. Incomplete, illegible, or indecipherable entries will be deemed invalid. One entry per person is permitted. By entering this promotion, you agree to receive information and marketing communications via email, mail, or phone.
6. Entrants must upload an image of their completed colouring sheet and email to [email protected] or send by post Attention: Marketing, PO Box 2246, Green Hills NSW 2323. Only one entry per person will be accepted.
7. The Promoter reserves the right to verify the validity of entries and to disqualify any Eligible Entrant whom the Promoter believes either has tampered with the entry process or has submitted an entry otherwise than in accordance with these terms and conditions of entry.
8. The Promoter will not be held liable for any failure of receipt of entries. The Promoter takes no responsibility for any entries which are lost, delayed, illegible, corrupted, damaged, incomplete, or otherwise invalid.
9. Winners will receive a Colgate ProClinical Electric Toothbrush valued at $50. There will be 5 prizes given away across all age groups.
10. The prizes are as stated, and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The Prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other special offer. The prize is not exchangeable, transferable or redeemable for cash. If the Promoter is unable to supply the nominated prize, the Promoter reserves the right to supply another prize of greater or equal value.
11. The winners of the prizes will be notified on 26^th August 2024 via telephone, then by email if no response.
12. In the event that the prize is not claimed by 11:59pm AEDT on the 1^st September 2024 the judges will select an alternate winner. In the event that the alternate winner does not claim their prize by 11:59pm AEDT on the 8^th September 2024 then the prize will be forfeited by the winner and neither cash nor any other prize will be awarded in lieu of that prize.
13. Eligible Entrants agree, at the Promoter’s request, to participate in any promotional activity (such as social media posts) surrounding this promotion or the winning of any prize. Eligible Entrants agree that they will not be remunerated for this participation. Eligible Entrants consent to the Promoter, its respective officers, employees, agents and associated companies using their name and image in any media in perpetuity, without limitation and without compensation to the Eligible Entrant.
14. To the fullest extent permitted by law and without limiting any other conditions of entry, the Promoter may, in its discretion, terminate, modify or suspend the promotion. All Eligible Entrants participating in the promotion at the point of termination, modification or suspension of the promotion will be notified by the Promoter in writing. In the event of modification or suspension of the promotion, the Eligible Entrant may choose to terminate their participation in the promotion at no cost.
15. Details from all entries, including an Eligible Entrant’s personal and contact details, will be collected and used for the purposes of conducting this promotion (which may include disclosure to third parties for the purpose of processing and conducting the promotion) and for publicity purposes surrounding this promotion. By entering this promotion Eligible Entrants consent to the use of their information as described. Eligible Entrants may access and/or change their data by following the procedures in the Promoter’s privacy policy which is available at https://nibdental.com.au/privacy-policy/.
16. Failure by the Promoter to exercise any of its rights contained within these terms and conditions at any time does not constitute a waiver of those rights.
17. Dental services are provided at nib Dental Care centres by independent Practitioners. nib Dental Care is owned and operated by Pacific Smiles Group Limited ABN 42 103 087 449.