i’m 7 yrs postmenopause, not on HRT, and lately i’ve been having some dental issues. got a few cavities filled recently and my dentist mentioned that my teeth are more prone to decay due to hormonal changes. anyone else experiencing this? i’ve been tracking my labs and noticed that my calcium levels are a bit low. wondering if there’s a connection between low calcium and dental problems. imo also, has anyone tried any supplements or changes to their oral care routine that have helped? fwiw, i’ve been taking vitamin d and k2, but not sure if it’s making a difference. would love to hear about others’ experiences with this.
Fresh from my own experiences with lupus, I can see why you’d wonder about the connection between low calcium and dental problems, especially when you mention “my calcium levels are a bit low” - that’s a pretty specific flag to raise. For me, tracking labs and symptoms in one place has been key to spotting patterns, like how my C3/C4 levels start to drop before a flare. I’ve been using a log to keep everything in one spot, which makes it easier to see what’s going on over time.
Logging a symptom from my watch is a small thing that removes enough friction that I actually do it, and it’s helped me catch a few things early. When it comes to dental issues, I haven’t had any major problems myself, but I do know that hormonal changes can affect a lot of different systems in the body. You might want to talk to your doctor about whether there are any other factors at play, like vitamin D or magnesium levels, that could be contributing to your dental issues.
I mentioned this before, but my rheumatologist is always looking at my labs as a snapshot, rather than a timeline, which can make it hard to catch patterns - maybe that’s something to consider when you’re talking to your dentist or doctor about your calcium levels and dental problems.
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That “more prone to decay due to hormonal changes” sounds like another one of those invisible shifts that we have to track ourselves, just like you’re doing with your calcium levels.
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did your endo check parathyroid hormone with that calcium?
that hormonal component your dentist mentioned sounds like something deeper than just ‘low calcium.’ it’s easy for docs to just handwave “hormones” but did they specify what kind of hormonal changes, or which specific levels beyond the total calcium are off? i’d also ask if they checked your ionized calcium, or if a DEXA scan makes sense for bone density, especially with the ‘more prone to decay’ detail.
low calcium hits teeth
that’s a tough spot to be in, finding new issues pop up that connect back to hormonal changes. you said your dentist mentioned “my teeth are more prone to decay due to hormonal changes,” which sounds like a systemic issue
Low calcium levels seem to be a common thread here, and i’m curious if anyone’s explored the connection between calcium and dental problems further. You mentioned “my calcium levels are a bit low” which makes me wonder if there’s a specific threshold where dental issues start to arise. I’ve been tracking my own migraines and noticed some overlap with hormonal changes, but dental health is a new angle for me.
Dental problems seem like a classic postmenopause issue, but i’m not sure low calcium is the whole story. you mentioned your calcium levels are “a bit low” and wondered about the connection to dental problems, which makes sense, but has anyone looked into other factors like gum recession or changes in oral bacteria that might be contributing to these issues, especially since you’re already taking vitamin d and k2?
Fresh from my own struggles with hormonal changes, I can see why you’re wondering about the connection between low calcium and dental problems, north.aspen. You mentioned “my calcium levels are a bit low” and I’m curious, have you talked to your doctor about supplementing with calcium or changing your diet to boost those levels.
I’ve been tracking my own labs and noticed similar issues, especially with my thyroid meds, and it’s made me realize how important it is to stay on top of our nutrient levels as we age. “anyone else experiencing this” and I have to say, I am, and it’s not just the calcium, my dentist has also mentioned that hormonal changes can affect our oral health in lots of ways.
low calcium levels mentioned