Gum Problems May Come with Menopause
September 10, 2009

by Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - Menopause may increase the risk for periodontal disease, a study says.

Researchers from Brazil did the study. They examined 328 women, ages 40 to 69. The women were divided into three groups. One group had gone through menopause and was not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Another group was taking HRT after menopause. The third group of women who had not been through menopause.

The study found that women who were not taking HRT after menopause were twice as likely to have periodontal disease as women before menopause. In women who were taking HRT, the amount of periodontal disease found after menopause was about the same as in women before menopause.

All three groups had a similar risk of losing teeth. However, periodontal disease is the major cause of tooth loss in people over the age of 35.

Most women go through menopause somewhere between ages 45 and 54. Studies have found that HRT has both benefits and risks. It tends to protect against bone fractures, but can increase risk for stroke and blood clots.

The study appears in the September issue of the Journal of Periodontology.