Menopause & A Moisture-less Mouth!

Menopause & A Moisture-less Mouth!

22 January 2019

Hi,

My name is Jo.F and this is my first blog for the Briars! 🙂

last week my voice completely disappeared, lost, mislaid and vanished! No sore throat, no cold – just whispering without apparent reason!

Now my family, friends & colleagues found it hilarious, I even forgot I didn’t have a normal voice & wondered when they couldn’t hear me.

So I bombarded our expert dentists and ‘Google’ with questions trying to find that elusive instantaneous solution to bring back my vocal prowess. I gargled, drank gallons of water, I tried not to talk, used steam & tried sugar-free chewing gum!

Sugar-free chewing gum is known to improve saliva levels in your mouth, saliva is very important in keeping your mouth healthy.

Saliva can help your mouth protect against gum disease, tooth decay, infections and is a key part of swallowing and digestion. Occasionally some people experience a ‘dry mouth’

Xerostomia can affect anyone but we are often asked about it by our perimenopause and postmenopausal patients. Prior to perimenopause, saliva is partly regulated throughout the day by the estrogen hormone. As a lady’s estrogen levels changes in perimenopause and post menopause this hormone weakens resulting in an uncomfortable dry mouth for some women.

Talk to one of our Dentists if you are experiencing any of the following common dry mouth symptoms:

• Soreness
• A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
• Frequent thirst
• Sores in the mouth, sores or split skin at the corners of the mouth, cracked lips
• Dry, red, raw tongue
• Issues with speaking, difficulty tasting, chewing or swallowing
• Hoarseness, sore or dry throat
• Bad breath/ bitter taste
• Oral health problems
• Burning mouth sensation

There are a few simple things that may help you avoid a dry mouth, we recommend:

• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid drinks containing caffeine
• Chew sugar-less chewing gum to stimulate saliva flow in your mouth
• Be aware that eating spicy or salty foods while experiencing a dry mouth could increase the discomfort
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol
• A room vaporiser will add moisture to your bedroom air while you sleep
• See a Dentist regularly & update them on any medication you take.

Well the hard work paid off, after 10 days my voice returned reminding me that….

‘The human voice is the most perfect instrument of all’ – Arvo Part

Jo. F x

www.briarsdentalcentre.com
quality dental care tailored to you in the heart of Newbury