Men’s Dental Health Issues
Here are some of the major dental health problems that affect men more than women:
- Being less likely to brush and floss regularly. Men are 20% less likely than women to brush twice a day, floss daily, and even replace old toothbrushes! They’re also less likely to go to the dentist for a regular preventative checkup. This is one reason it’s so important to cement good oral health habits at an early age, so parents of young boys take note!
- Because men are more likely to drink, smoke, and chew tobacco than women, they are at greater risk of advanced gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer.
- Dry mouth can affect men more because it’s a common side-effect of high blood pressure and heart disease medications.
Women’s Dental Health Issues
Meanwhile, women have their own set of dental health challenges to face:
- TMD and Sjörgen’s syndrome both affect women more than men.
- Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause all involve hormonal changes that can make gingivitis and gum inflammation more likely.
- Eating disorders disproportionately affect women, and the resulting malnutrition damages every system in the body. Bulimia also directly damages the teeth through frequent exposure to stomach acid.