Perimenopause and Menopause

Hormone replacement therapy may reduce some perimenopausal dental symptoms, but the evidence is not definitive. Estrogen decline affects both the quantity and quality of saliva. Declining estrogen and progesterone produce oral changes involving collagen, mucosal dryness, elasticity, and tone. The article cautions against irreversible dental interventions during active hormonal fluctuation unless the diagnosis is clear. Reduced saliva can rapidly create dysbiosis and raise cavity risk. Burning mouth syndrome is reported to affect about 25–35% of perimenopausal or menopausal women.