Menopause, Post-Menopause and Periodontal Disease

The median age of menopause for American women is about 50 years of age, and approximately one-third of a woman's life is post-menopausal.17 Oral changes in menopausal or post-menopausal women may include dry mouth, pain and burning sensations in the gums, cheeks or tongue, or altered taste. In addition, conditions where the gums turn bright red and fragile, then peel off and leave a raw bleeding surface (termed desquamative gingivitis) are more prevalent in menopausal or post-menopausal women.18

These oral changes are brought about by the pronounced decrease in the production of sex hormones, primarily progesterone and estrogen. New research is finding that bone loss due to osteoporosis is associated with increased severity of periodontal disease. Women considering Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to reduce the effects of menopause and to prevent osteoporosis should note that similar beneficial effects have been found when studying its relationship to periodontal health. HRT has been found to be protective in terms of tooth loss and decreased incidence of gingival bleeding. 19, 20

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Article References

Guest Article by Eduardo R. Lorenzana, DDS, MS
Web Site: http://www.advancedperiodontics.com 

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