Mum's shock after learning real reason behind ‘unbearable' gum pain and the signs to look out for
Angela Cook, 49, started to experience "unbearable" gum pain whenever she ate and couldn't understand why.
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The mother-of-one endured "intense" gum ache, particularly around her molars, when eating hard or chewy foods.
Enjoying her favourite treats – humbug sweets, sugar cane and apples – was "impossible", and soon eating everyday meals became just as agonising.
Given the nature of the problem, she visited a dentist – opting to go private and was told the discomfort was likely due to ageing.
Angela had been experiencing typical menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and mood changes 12 months prior to this in 2021 – at the age of 45, but she hadn't made the connection.
It was only when she happened to overhear a discussion on the radio about menopause and gum health that everything "clicked into place" – and she realised she was going through the menopause.
She shared her story after a poll of 1,000 women yet to go through menopause, commissioned by CanesMeno, found 19 per cent consider it to be a mystery.
Signs of ageing
There are 50 recognised signs of the ageing process - including dental problems, a symptom 89 per cent aren't aware can develop during the climacteric.
Hormonal fluctuations, particularly a drop in oestrogen during menopause, can cause gums to become inflamed, bleed and ache, according to experts.
Determined to find a solution, Angela started researching online for possible treatments and came across "gum massaging" on YouTube ≠ gently rubbing the gums underneath each tooth with her fingers after flossing, once a day.
She started doing it daily in June 2022 and noticed an "instant difference".
Angela, a psychologist from Banbury, Oxfordshire, said: "I never had any tooth or gum problems before the menopause – dentists would tell me how healthy my teeth were.
"So, this was a massive surprise.
"It left me in great pain and apprehensive about eating food that had to be chewed, so I was desperate for anything that would help take away the pain I was in, even if it was a little.
"I felt relieved when I came across the radio segment – I didn't feel so alone.'
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Due to the massaging, over time, her symptoms gradually improved, and Angela still massages her gums weekly to maintain her gum health and prevent flare-ups.
While she still experiences occasional aching, the episodes are far less frequent and no longer dominate her life.
She also still experiences hot flashes, "few and far between", as well as occasional night sweats.
'The risk of gum ache curbs my cravings'
Angela, married to Matthew Cook, 57, a builder, and mum to daughter, Dee, 14, said: "I still experience aching from time to time, but not so much.
"I miss eating humbug sweets and sugar cane, but the risk of having the gum ache, like before, curbs my cravings."
It comes after further research by CanesMeno of 1,000 females who are going or have been through menopause found 52 per cent didn't feel prepared for the ageing process.
With 52 per cent of all women polled – both those who have and haven't experienced the ageing process believing more needs to be done to educate women on it.
Similarly, 48 per cent think the wider public needs to be better educated on the topic, while 35 per cent wish they'd been taught about menopause at school, university, or college.
Carried out through OnePoll, the study found 21 per cent of everyone polled believes the menopause is a taboo subject.
And 75 per cent of those who have gone through the ageing process admitted they avoided talking about their symptoms with others.
Angela added: "It wasn't until I heard it discussed openly that I realised it was even a thing. It made me feel validated – there was a reason for what I was experiencing.'
A spokesperson for CanesMeno, which has launched a training programme to educate Boots pharmacists on the signs of the menopause, said: 'It's still somewhat of a mystery for many women – perhaps even for those who have experienced it.
'People will have their perceptions of what they think the menopause is, but it impacts those going through it many ways, way beyond what they might expect.
'And this study highlights some of these ways – sadly there is a bit of a knowledge gap and we want to change that.'
When does the perimenopause start?
The perimenopause is a natural stage of life.
In most people it will happen naturally between the ages of 45 and 55 and last for a few months to several years. It can even last a decade or more.
During the perimenopause, your hormone levels change and your ovaries start to produce fewer eggs.
Once you haven't had a period for 12 months or more, you've officially reached the menopause.
Some people start experiencing the perimenopause before they are 40.
This can be as a result of medical treatments, such as surgery to remove the ovaries, but sometimes there's no cause.
If you think you're experiencing the perimenopause before you're 40 then you must speak to your doctor.
Source: Bupa
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