Oral health and menopause

Focus on Adult Oral Health Awareness

Women need to protect their oral health, especially after menopause. They could be at a heightened risk for tooth loss and can reduce that risk by guarding their periodontal health.

A 2005 study published in the Journal of Periodontology of post-menopausal women found loss of bone and soft tissue attachment of the gums contributed to tooth loss. These additional risks for women after menopause might be due to estrogen deficiency and loss of bone mineral density.

Researchers say more study needs to be conducted to determine if women after menopause have additional risks for periodontal disease. However, a woman can protect her periodontal health by brushing and flossing daily, limiting soft drink and fruit juice intake and visiting her dentist regularly.

Source: Journal of Periodontology, vol. 76, July 2005.

Dental practices & local economies
Did you know dentists do more than just help improve people's oral health? They also provide substantial benefits to the local economy – and beyond. A 2000 American Dental Association study found dentists’ total economic impact to be more than $200 billion. Dentistry accounted for more than two million jobs nationwide and taxes generated from dental activity totaled more than $33 billion.

These benefits add to the economy in the form of additional income for other businesses from expenditures by dental patients visiting from surrounding areas, dental employees, workers who supply goods and services to dental offices and governments that spend the taxes collected on the additional income.

Dental practices, most of which are small businesses, also provide substantial local benefits. In 2000, the annual economic impact of one additional dentist was estimated at more than $1.2 million. For small counties, that additional dentist provides a significant boost to the local economy.

In celebration of Labor Day earlier this month, the WDA recognizes the numerous benefits dentists provide their patients and communities.