Sarika Shah considers dentistry’s ‘blind spot’ when it comes to menopause – what effects should dental professionals know about and how can awareness be improved?
Every day in dental practices across the UK, millions of women walk through our doors – many in the midst of a profound physiological transition that often goes unrecognised.
While pregnancy and its oral health implications are widely acknowledged and routinely addressed, the impact of perimenopause and menopause remains largely invisible in dental care. Yet the hormonal changes that define this life stage can subtly but significantly affect the oral cavity, altering saliva production, mucosal integrity, taste perception, and periodontal health.
For too long, this has been the profession’s ‘blind spot’, leaving a vast number of patients without the guidance, reassurance, or preventive care they deserve.
How do menopause and perimenopause affect the mouth?
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