Researchers from University of Buffalo had said that postmenopausal women would have lesser chance of losing their teeth if they can keep their periodontal disease at bay. Their research was published in the latest issue of Journal of Periodontology.
Researchers who had studied 106 postmenopausal women had found that in an average of 11 years, at least 57% of the participants lost one tooth. Their research says that alveolar bone loss is one of the most important predictor of losing one’s teeth in such women. For each millimeter of bone loss during menopause, there exists three times as much a risk of tooth loss. This risk increases by 2.5 times more for each millimeter loss of soft tissue attachment between the tooth and the bone structure. This is also known as the loss of bone and gums.Researchers said that periodontal disease is the major cause of alveolar bone loss in patients who are over the age of 35yrs. Researchers are of the opinion that estrogen deficiency associated with menopause and this leading to consequent loss of bone mineral density are the chief reasons of increased rate of tooth loss. The researchers had followed up their patients for an average of 11.5 years to come to their conclusions.
Source: American Academy of Periodontology
Medindia on Oral care: Further information
Alveolar Bone- This is also called the jawbone and the bony structure that supports the teeth.
Periodontal ligaments- These are set of connective tissues that connect the root with the jawbone and keep the tooth hinged to its proper position.
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