For you ladies who aren't using HRT...estrogen plumps the gums back up just as it plumps "other" things back up. My gums were extremely pale and brushing my teeth was an excruciating when I had extremely low levels of estrogen. I had no idea my levels were low. Had a partial and kept ovaries when I was 35. I might also add that my GP insisted I was too young for menopause, refused to check my levels, and in addition to receding gums which caused bleeding and extreme pain from exposed nerves, I had every menopause symptom on the list. I was convinced that I had a horrible disease and was dying. After two years, my GP finally checked my levels. I had NO estrogen at all. I was totally postmenopausal by this time.
I finally settled on using the Vivelle Dot patch...live in the US but is basically the same as the Estradot. Gums plumped back up, stopped bleeding, and the plump served to protect the exposed nerves. I have no gum issues at all now...that was nearly 14 years ago. However, I'm having other issues that I'm considering discussing later. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by them now. I hope this might be helpful for some of you, and as my dentist says, "you should only floss the teeth you want to keep!"
