Hormone replacement therapy shown to be highly effective in reducing gum disease and tooth loss

The study, which evaluated nearly 500 women between the ages of 50 and 87, discovered rates of gum disease were significantly lower in those receiving HRT, with many seeing a 44 per cent improvement in gum health.

The menopause, which commonly strikes in the late 40s and early 50s, leaves women at higher risk of several health issues, including gum disease, due to a decrease in oestrogen levels.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss; previous studies have also suggested more than one in four (28 per cent) post-menopausal women are likely to suffer from tooth loss within five years.

An estimated one million British women are currently taking HRT, however, the NHS has claimed that many more could be suffering from menopausal symptoms in silence. As a result, the Oral Health Foundation is encouraging woman to be more aware of their oral health during this time and are offering advice about how to cope with such changes to the mouth.