There are obvious differences between men and women. But what you may not realize is that these differences extend into the world of dentistry and oral health as well. For instance, did you know that women are more likely to visit their dentist regularly, while men are more prone to visit only when something needs attention?
Read on to discover more interesting facts about the differing oral health habits of men and women.
Women brush more than men
On average, women are over 8% more likely to brush their teeth twice every day than men are. Studies have shown that men skip brushing here and there while women prove to be more vigilant about their brushing habits. Women are also nearly 10% more likely than men to brush their teeth immediately after eating meals.
Men put themselves at more risk than women
When it comes to keeping your mouth and overall health in check, there are certain things you should just stay away from. Chewing tobacco products, smoking cigarettes, over-consumption of alcohol, and exposing yourself to other carcinogens are extremely harmful activities that can result in many health issues, including oral cancer. Studies have shown that men are more likely than women to consume these kinds of carcinogenic products and do so at higher rates than women, which means they are more at risk of developing oral cancer, gum disease, and other health issues.
Women see the dentist more often
Women are more likely than men to visit their dentist and, while they are there, make a future or follow-up appointment that they intend to keep. It’s been proven that men often visit their dental professionals only when it is absolutely necessary and therefore receive far fewer dental checkups and cleanings than women.
Men experience more dental issues
Because women are generally more proactive regarding maintaining their oral health and see their dentist regularly, they on average experience fewer dental issues such as gum disease, tartar buildup, and bleeding gums when compared to men. Often, oral diseases show very few warning signs that can be identified by someone who is not a dental professional. As men don’t necessarily see their dentist as regularly for screenings, problems such as gum disease, oral cancer, decay, and other oral health issues can sometimes go unnoticed until the disease has undergone advanced stages. For this reason, men have been proven to be more likely than women to develop these issues. This is why being vigilant about receiving regular dental checkups is essential in ensuring your ongoing health.
Women often experience sudden spikes in oral issues
As only women go through pregnancy and menopause, women of course experience more concentrated elevation and changes in general in hormones. This spiking of hormones can cause changes in oral health with nearly 75% of women developing gingivitis while expecting, and with some experiencing Burning Mouth Syndrome while going through menopause. Increased visits to the dentist during these times is a great way to keep oral health in check and have any concerns dealt with before they develop into larger issues. Check out this post for more information about how pregnancy can influence your oral health and this post for more about Burning Mouth Syndrome.
Men experience more tooth trauma
It’s been proven that, in general, more men play sports that involve intense physical contact with other players such as tackle football, rugby, water polo, wrestling, and boxing. This greatly increases their chances of colliding with other people or sports equipment and chipping, cracking, or losing teeth altogether. These chances increase even more when coupled with the fact that men are less likely than women to wear mouth-guards or other protective gear when playing these activities. Having a mouth-guard fitted or buying one from a local pharmacy is the best way to protect teeth and jaw bones from damage like this.
