Perimenopause Gums problems

[JustLaura]

Anyone have any tips for continual gum ache?

Dentist sends me to the hygienist once a year and it does ease slightly but it's seemingly ramping up in one specific part of my gum.

I'm late 40's. Not on HRT. Taking Menopace for the moment.

You could probably do with more frequent hygienist visits. My DP goes every 3 months to keep on top of his gum issues.

Is it actually just an ordinary infection? Your membranes, including in your mouth, do dry out a bit with menopause but you can still have a healthy mouth with good oral hygiene.

I'm surprised you only see a hygienist once a year. The usual timescale is once every 6 months or more often. I go 3 - 4 times a year. I book them myself (private dentistry) and I certainly need it doing this often.

Sore gums are not usually a peri meno problem- maybe go for another descaling?

I agree re upping the hygienist visits.

Also, if you use a toothpaste with SLS it might be worth trying something like Kingfisher fluoride version. I didn't have gum issues but had a quite chewed up inside cheek which I thought was due to either the dental retainer I wear at night or me biting myself in my sleep. Anyway within about a week of using the new toothpaste it was completely healed and hasn't come back. I didn't switch for this reason, I was trying to find a toothpaste without artificial sweeteners.

In the short term, make sure you're cleaning well with an electric round head toothbrush and cleaning between the teeth with TeePee brushes. In the short term you can use Corsydol ( mouthwash or gel) but my dentist said no more than a week or it can discolour teeth.

I have to disagree with this - my gingivitis started during perimenopause and I never had any gum issues whatsoever before this, in spite of having quite a bit of tartar build up and not flossing or using interdental brushes.

Now, any gum problems are all caused by my fluctuating hormones and it's bloody painful at times, especially just before my period. I literally cry because my gums hurt so much when brushing sometimes.

I'm very vigilant about oral health now, and use interdental brushes, floss and occasionally use Corsodyl. If you'd asked me 5 years ago about oral health issues, I'd have said I have none. Now I'm lucky to go a few weeks without a gum pain flare up or bleeding. It really sucks and you have mu total sympathy. I'm hoping if I ever try HRT that it might get better. 🤔

Thanks @ForeverDelayedEpiphany

I definitely think it's linked to hormones.

The dentist said it could be fluctuating hormones and asked if I take anything for that (presumably he didn't want to directly ask about HRT).

Perimenopausal gingivitus is most definitely a thing.
Nothing to do with a lack of oral hygiene, either.
I never had a toothache or gum ache or dry mouth and unfortunately all three symptoms at the same time, leaving me in excruciating pain were my primary symptoms of perimenopause.
Losing two back teeth after only ever having one filling at the age of nine was what got my GP taking me seriously that I am perimenopausal and to give me HRT.
I still have my periods, but sending me for a blood test confirmed my peri status.
I now need braces for the "shifting teeth syndrome" that can also come with perimenopause. I've got a gap between my front teeth now.
So along with not having the benefit of less periods in perimenopause, I now have to cough up thousands in order to keep my grill from looking like an abandoned cemetry.

Get tested, get on HRT and do not try and convince yourself of your symptoms not being linked to perimenopause.
I did , for ten agonising months until one day, every bone in my face seemed to hurt. No amount of "hygiene" , cordysol, nurofen and dentist visits solved the issue. Only HRT did.
The dentist did not even diagnose gingivitis as my breath did not smell (I've changed dentist)!
It was me knowing my body, and finally refusing the minimisation from the pros that has enabled my being pain free for the last 15 months.

Thanks @EasyTouch

I have a lot of other peri symptoms and have had those for several years but the gum thing has been a revelation to me.

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to want to give up and I'm still getting a period every 26-36 days.

Years ago I did get to 101 days without a period but they then returned like clockwork for about 2 years. Who knows!

I always imagined Perimenopause to be like puberty in reverse. Oh how I can laugh about that now!!!

Why would he not ask about HRT?

My dentist has a medical questionnaire for patients and I list HRT. They ask at each appt if there has been any change in this.

It's relevant because bone loss (including the jaw) post-meno can affect teeth, and gums do shrink post-meno ('long in the tooth'!) but that also applies (but less) to men.

@JustLaura They don't test for peri in women over 45. NICE guidance advises GPs not to test.The reasons for testing under 45 is to make sure there are no other issues and/or if someone is trying to conceive.

Rinse your mouth out with loads of salt dissolved in boiled water -allow to cool a bit obv. Treats the pain and prevents infection

@JinglingSpringbells

We have the health questionnaire too. Perhaps he thought I'm embarrassed? I'm not.

Definitely loss of oestrogen. Terrible swollen gums, couldn't close my mouth. Dentist was useless. Gingigel gel and mouthwash helps, rinsing with saltwater is fantastic, but was taking magnesium for fizzy hands and swelling went down. Read that gum health linked to magnesium so taking it every night and no problems since.