Most over 50s unaware of menopause-oral health link

New data suggests that 84% of women over 50 are not aware of the oral health impacts of menopause, with 70% experiencing oral symptoms they do not realise are related.

These findings were collected as part of Delta Dental’s Senior Oral Health and Menopause Report for 2023. Over 1,000 women over 50 were surveyed on the topic of menopause and oral health in July 2023.

The understanding of menopause-related oral changes was further broken down by individual symptoms. High percentages of participants were unaware that the following symptoms are associated with menopause:

• Reduced saliva production (90%)
• Increased tooth decay (88%)
• Increased risk of gum disease (87%)
• Jawbone density changes (87%)
• Tooth loss (85%)
• Receding gum lines (83%)
• Dry mouth (77%).

This was not due to lack of interest, as more than half of participants indicated they were extremely or moderately curious to learn more about menopausal oral health. More than four in five (84%) felt there should be more resources that provide information about the link between menopause and overall health.

Conversations around menopause

The study also explored conversations around menopause between dental professionals and patients. Only 2% of participants had asked their dentist about menopause-related concerns, and 1% had asked their dental hygienist. More than a quarter (27%) felt that they couldn’t find any information about these concerns.

Dr Jessica Buehler, senior director of dental affairs at Delta Dental, said: ‘What’s most compelling to me is how few menopausal women said they had asked any physician about oral health symptoms.

‘That’s a care gap with extensive repercussions – saliva is the natural buffer of your mouth, and less saliva means less protection against dry mouth, which is at the crux of all other oral health symptoms related to menopause, like burning tongue, increased tooth decay and altered taste.’

She encouraged affected people to ‘share the oral health changes that you are experiencing with your dentist or dental hygienist’.

The impact of awareness about the menopause-oral health link was also addressed in the study. Over three quarters (77%) of the participants said they would now prioritise scheduling their next dental exam or tooth cleaning. Over half (54%) also said they would spend much more time on their oral care routine.

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