Oral Health Care Among Women in Perimenopause or Menopause: An Integrative Review.
Namitha Thomas, Kath Peters, Kate O' Reilly and 2 others
PMID 39045880WHAT IT FOUND
Women in perimenopause or menopause often knew little about oral health risks, and most reported brushing once daily; providers rarely gave guidance, and only one guideline exists.
Nurses and midwives may need to ask about dry mouth, gum changes, and refer to dental care.
Key findings
01Across included studies, women were often unaware that menopause could affect oral health, and most reported brushing only once a day.
02In provider surveys, many gynecologists did not recommend periodic dental check-ups, and only 3% of providers in one study gave guidance on oral symptoms.
03Only one guideline was identified, recommending good oral hygiene, fluoride-containing toothpaste or rinses, regular dental examinations, and informing dental providers about screening findings and medications.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 12 studies were found, and 8 were rated low quality, so the evidence base is thin. Most included studies were cross-sectional surveys, so they describe self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and practices at one time rather than testing whether advice changes oral health. Provider data were sparse: three studies involved 113 providers, and one study involved 380 institutions without a provider count. Most studies were from low-income countries, and standard practice patterns and guidelines may differ in higher-resource settings. Only one guideline was found, so there is little evidence about what providers should do.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this review as evidence that menopause causes oral health problems or that nurse-led oral health advice improves outcomes. It summarizes low-quality cross-sectional surveys of self-reported knowledge and practices, and it found only one guideline.