Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: gladys on November 16, 2014, 09:01:25 AM
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hi everyone ok I am on elleste duet 1mg and doing fairly well but now I have been in and out of the dentist have had two teeth removed and still in pain very sensitive gums and teeth more so than ever before the dentist is running out of ideas as they say my other teeth a fairly ok has anyone else had this is it part and parcel of menopause or is it just me feeling very low :(
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I am a dentist's daughter and worked as a dental nurse with my father during my teens. I saw some pretty horrid stuff at the surgery but also a great deal of the positive side of dentistry which actually made me want to became a dentist. Unfortunately my father discouraged this as he felt it wasn't a profession for a women!!!!
He died over 30 years ago and I've had a variety of dentists since then - some good and some :-X.
I am very caries prone so I have a mouth full of fillings. I have always been scrupulous with my dental hygiene so I guess I've been unlucky. I know that the menopause can effect the gums - causing inflammation which will impact on the teeth, loosening them and can be a reason for tooth loss.
I am surprised your dentist is not giving you advice about how to reduce the gum inflammation - flossing and regular brushing(in the right way) can improve circulation and therefore the health of the gums. Whatever you do don't stop brushing your teeth because they are sensitive. I assume you are using toothpaste for sensitive teeth? As we get older our gums tend to recede and this exposes areas that would normally be below the gum line so there isn't the enamel to protect and reduce sensitivity. After brushing your teeth try applying a little of this toothpaste for sensitive teeth over the sensitive areas for extra relief. Swilling saline solution around your mouth is also a good idea. Dg x
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My dentist recommended the Colgate mouthwash for sensitive teeth, which I have found to really help. Also cutting sugar from my diet as much as possible has made a huge impact on my dental health. My gums were inflamed a lot last year, but after loads of ABs for other infection, the inflammation has gone, so maybe a reflection of general health?
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Hi Gladys
I had the same problem with my gums and my dentist gave me (had to pay for it) Corsodyl Dental Gel. Not sure if the chemist sells it. I only needed it for a few days and they calmed down. Also useful for mouth ulcers
I hope that helps
PN x x
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Think I might have posted this a some years ago but its very interesting
http://www.dentalgentlecare.com/menopause_and_dental_health.htm
Your teeth are a good indicator of the health of your bones.
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Before HRT I had bleeding gums. It's lack of oestrogen amongst other things. My dentist told me to pay as much attention to my gums as my teeth. She recommended brushing at a 45° angle between teeth and gums. I do this religiously every day and rarely have gum problems. The gums are receding around my crowns though and that's my most sensitive area.
Honeyb
x
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It's lack of oestrogen amongst other things.
I must be very fortunate then honeybun as I do not have HRT but have no dental issues apart from a little sensitivity which responds to toothpaste for sensitive teeth, and some crowding and staining in the front which responds to smoker's toothpaste (but I am not a smoker it's just good for tea stains). I have had no dental work done apart from scale and polish since my eldest son was born over 30 years ago,
I do think genetics also plays a part as my father and grandmother had their own teeth to the end of their life.
I sympathise with those who suffer with teeth and gum problems, my husband has soft enamel and has many fillings.
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Hello gladys.
I have one particular molar that causes me problems occasionally when the gum line becomes sore and inflamed. At that time I usually rub in some salt and then gargle with a saline solution, after a day or two of this the problem usually goes. Hope this helps.
Take care.
K.
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I use Sensodyne when my gums cause tender spots. I can't floss as there isn't room in my gob ::) but I do use 'teepe' brushes several times a day. Keeping the gums healthy can be difficult, so regular use of teepe, various gels and mouth washes can help. I was told not to use Corsodyl paste too often :-\
Age related sadly. Receding gums = tooth loss which is why I have had implants. That way the movement of chewing + regular brushing = less recession. Gum bone requires 'action' from above in order to stimulate blood supply.
Your Dentist :-X ::)
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Thank you everyone makes me feel so much better that I am not alone the joys of menopause good luck everyone x :)
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I have an open bite and my chiropractor told me it is the cause of my TMJ issues. Braces were never mentioned as a child and would be far too costly to have done now at my age.
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I had a problem for years with sore gums. Then about 2 years ago some told me about sensitivity to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), which is a foaming agent present in most toothpastes. I changed to one without this (Sensodyne gel) and problems solved. Recently I had trouble finding the gel in the shops and had to buy something else. Within a couple of days my sore gums were back. Check out the label on the toothpaste you buy to see if its included. The sensodyne website gives information on which of it products are SLS free.
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that's a really helpful tip rosebud, thanks :)
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SLS caused my two kids to have mouth ulcers.
It's the same foam agent that they put in floor cleaner and is very corrosive.
Honeyb
x
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Quite agree. All these fancy toothpaste contain extra, unwanted chemicals that we put into our delicate mouths. No wonder they cause problems.
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I was talking to my husband about this and we are keen to change our toothpaste now. Short of studying the ingredients panel on every brand we are wondering how to find a SLS free one.
Thank you sparky, we will look into Macleans x
Just looked it up sparkle!
By Appointment to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales Suppliers of Toothpaste GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Brentford Middlesex.
Macleans is a registered trade mark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.
Ingredients
Aqua, Hydrated Silica, Sorbitol, Glycerin, PEG-6, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Aroma, Titanium Dioxide, Xanthan Gum, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Sodium Fluoride, Sodium Saccharin, Limonene, Contains Sodium Fluoride 0.306% w/w (1400 ppm Fluoride
I wonder if HRH is aware......... ::)
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Some of the Pearl Drops one's are SLS free as is Sensodyne Gentle Whitening.
I was at my wits end with both my kids having ulcers. The dentist was no help at all. Eventually I came across some information on the internet.....in the days of dial up ::)
When we changed toothpaste all the problems just went.
When I told the dentist what I had discovered she had never even heard of it before. Makes you wonder what they teach them to be honest.
Honeyb
x
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It doesn't take much ;)
Our local organic shop stocks SLS free toothpaste but hubby is scared it will taste nasty ::).
To be honest if I hadn't read this on here I would have been none the wiser and if it isn't broken there's no need to fix it really.
Sensodyne Pronamel is lovely but sooooo expensive and there are still chemicals in it :(
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How much paste to you use each time ;D ……… I HATE a brush in my gob, encourages the reflex gag action and I dread cleaning teeth ……..
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Sensodyne gel and daily care are SLS free.
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just to say I got sensodyne extra fresh. It is SLS free and tastes fresh and minty. £4 for a 100ml tube.
Thank you for alerting me to the fact I was cleaning my teeth with household detergent!!! :-X
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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!" ;D