March 30, 2011 – Postmenopausal women should maintain good dental hygiene and visit their dentist more often to prevent periodontitis – an infection of the tissues that surround and support teeth.
So in addition to brushing their teeth twice a day, women with an increased risk of periodontitis should have their teeth removed more regularly – up to 4 times a year, if necessary.
This is what emerges from a small study of 56 postmenopausal women diagnosed with low bone density, a predisposition to osteoporosis. Half of the women had been taking a drug from the bisphosphonate family for more than 2 years to slow the loss of bone mass.
The results indicate that the prolonged use of bisphosphonates appears to protect postmenopausal women against periodontitis, which leads to loosening of the teeth.
More at risk of periodontitis after menopause
From the age of menopause, women are more at risk of suffering from periodontitis, because the presence of dental biofilm increases the formation of dental plaque.
This biofilm is made up of a community of bacteria and microbes that organize themselves together to feed themselves better.
According to the authors of the study, the biofilm would cause more inflammation when a person’s bone density is low, thus accentuating the proliferation of dental plaque.
4 visits per year to the dentist?
The Dr Jacques Véronneau, dentist and assistant professor at the Faculty of Dentistry at McGill University, does he recommend that postmenopausal women go to the dentist up to 4 times a year?
“Scientifically, when your teeth are scaled, the plaque is back after 3 months,” explains the one who is also a researcher in oral health. If you don’t have good hygiene, you may have to go to the dentist up to 4 times a year. “
But you have to take into account a person’s real risk, he insists. “The standard requiring that we undergo descaling once every 6 or 9 months is decreed by insurance coverages, not by science,” adds Mr. Véronneau.
Dental hygiene: its effects on overall health
Oral hygiene would not only have an effect on dental health, but also on overall health, recalls Dr.r Véronneau.
“Oral bacteria travel and are associated with markers of inflammation that increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders,” he says. For example, in a person with atherosclerosis, the transport of microbes and bacteria from the plaque could contribute to the aggregation of molecules in the arteries, making them more obstructed. “
This is why he emphasizes the importance of brushing your teeth twice a day. “If you only do it once, it’s better to do it before going to bed,” he says.
In addition, the use of a mouthwash twice a day, at a rate of 30 seconds per rinse, can reduce the extent of the biofilm by up to 60%.
What about dental floss? “We always recommend flossing, but we are not deluding ourselves about the results of this measure: a recent survey shows that 98% of Canadians do not use dental floss,” concludes Mr. Véronneau.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. Palomo L, et al, Is long-term bisphosphonate therapy associated with benefits to the periodontium in postmenopausal women?, Menopause2011 Feb 18 (2): 164-70.
