Award-winning hygienist Claire Berry and dental therapist and tutor Benjamin Tighe are campaigning to bring menopause into routine dental conversations. The pair, who co-host the podcast Your Dental Besties and are completing postgraduate study in menopause medicine, have toured the UK with a Women’s Health Roadshow titled From Cradle to Grave and presented on menopause and oral health at an oral health summit in Canada. Their work aims to give dental teams the knowledge and confidence to identify and manage oral symptoms linked to hormonal change.
Claire and Ben point to growing public demand for trustworthy information alongside new barriers online. A 2023 survey by UK period-product brand Bodyform identified more than 40 women’s health terms that social media platforms had banned or restricted, with “menopause” among them. The issue prompted a UK parliamentary debate in May 2026 about digital censorship and its effects on women’s health. The clinicians warn that restricted online reach — sometimes described as “shadow banning” — makes it harder for evidence-based material to reach those seeking help.
Ben told colleagues that digital platforms are often the first place people look for answers; when content is de-prioritised, professional voices must work harder to be visible and clear. Claire says the same openness being developed online should be matched in clinical settings: patients often build long-term relationships with their dental teams, creating a natural space to discuss subjects that may feel difficult.
Before clinicians can have those conversations, Claire says they need a firm grasp of the underlying science. She and Ben report spending almost a year assembling lectures, research and expert input to create a practical, evidence-based course aimed at hygienists and therapists. Their curriculum emphasises how hormonal fluctuations across the reproductive lifespan can present in the mouth and how to translate the evidence into patient advice.
Key oral presentations during perimenopause and after menopause include altered taste, burning mouth sensations and reduced salivary flow, clinically known as xerostomia. Saliva is central to oral health: it lubricates tissues, supports the oral microbiome and provides antimicrobial protection. Lower salivary flow can therefore raise the risk of dental caries, mucosal discomfort and oral infections, and can make plaque control more difficult, potentially worsening gingival and periodontal inflammation. The article also notes that dry mouth can be a side effect of many prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
Ben highlights that fluctuating and then persistently reduced oestrogen levels can alter oral tissues and the oral environment, increasing susceptibility to gingival inflammation, dry mouth and sensitivity. He also points out that menopause-related symptoms beyond the mouth — including anxiety, low mood, sleep disturbance and cognitive changes — can affect a patient’s capacity to maintain oral hygiene and prioritise dental care.
Both clinicians advocate a dual approach: manage presenting oral symptoms while addressing underlying contributors. That means reinforcing good oral hygiene, focusing on prevention and providing appropriate periodontal care. They encourage dental teams to proactively ask about reproductive and menopausal status rather than wait for patients to raise the topic.
When recommending at-home products or adjuncts, Claire and Ben urge teams to base advice on the available evidence and to use formulations that address specific symptoms. The article cites Gengigel, a range of oral-care products that use hyaluronic acid to support tissue hydration and healing, as an example of an adjunct useful for soft tissue irritation or after periodontal treatment. It explains that the Gengigel Perio range combines high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid with chlorhexidine and includes a toothpaste and mouth rinse designed to support gum health. The piece describes Gengigel’s intended effects as stopping minor bleeding, soothing soreness, alleviating pain and promoting healing. Readers are referred to the Dentocare Professional site for more information or ordering details.
Claire stresses that dental clinicians are well placed to normalise discussions about menopause because they often see patients regularly over many years. By explaining how hormonal changes can influence oral symptoms and by reassuring patients that these concerns are common and legitimate, clinicians can take a more holistic approach to care.
Ben encourages clinicians to create accessible, accurate digital content to counter misinformation, while also making time in the clinic to ask about life-stage issues that may affect oral health and treatment adherence. Both authors see education — for clinicians and patients — as central to improving outcomes.
The article notes the broader push to address the gender health gap and the challenges caused by social media moderation. It references the 2023 Bodyform survey and the May 2026 UK parliamentary debate on digital censorship and women’s health. Details about the specific research papers, lecture titles or the content of the postgraduate courses the authors are undertaking were not reported in the source.
This piece was sponsored by Dentocare and includes information about products from the Gengigel range. Clinicians reading the article should consider the sponsorship when weighing product recommendations against other available evidence and guidance.
Claire and Ben’s activity — producing education, touring with a roadshow and presenting at international meetings — illustrates a practical path: learn the evidence linking hormonal change to oral symptoms, ask patients about menopausal status as part of routine history-taking, manage symptoms with prevention-focused care, and recommend adjuncts where appropriate. The article does not provide clinical protocols or detailed treatment algorithms; those specifics were not reported in the source.
By opening conversations and ensuring teams are informed, dental practices can better support patients experiencing menopausal transitions and the oral-health challenges that may accompany them.
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