Perhaps one of the least thought of parts of our body is our teeth. That is until we wake up in the middle of the night with a toothache that shocks you to alertness. While most of us understand that we need to brush out teeth daily, It turns out that there are differences in the oral health of men and women. This fact does not mean that one gender can get away with brushing once every two days and the other gender must brush three times a day. This article will quickly show you who has the upper hand with oral health.
Men
Men have the tendency to put off regular dental checkups if they are not currently experiencing pain or oral discomfort. Men have the tendency to stray away from good oral hygiene such as flossing, brushing teeth at least twice a day, and using mouthwash. Men seem to be under the impression that your teeth will tell you if they are healthy and if they are not hurting, they are healthy, and no further action is needed. This mindset is a recipe for a dental disaster! Research has shown a correlation between dental health and systemic health, meaning if you have dental problems, you may also be at an elevated risk of heart problems due to the increased bacteria count in the body.
Women
Women see the beauty in pearly white, healthy teeth and this helps women stay loyal to their oral health regime more so than men. Women also take a more proactive role and tend to follow recommendations given by dentists to maintain healthy teeth. Studies show that women have a better attitude towards dental visits and are more inclined to heed the recommendations that the dental professional provides. In a study from the American Dental Association, women were more likely to brush their teeth after each meal. In this same study, 89% of women were shown to be more likely to have a dentist, as opposed to men where 75% of men reported having a dentist.
Verdict
When it comes to the mens' vs womens' oral health conversation, women seem to have the oral advantage due to their willingness to stick to a healthy oral health regimen, regular dental checkups, and preventing teeth and gum problems before they happen. The good news for men is it appears to be more of a behavior issue rather than a genetic predisposition, and this allows for men to be able to change the statistics! With proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits, both males and females can enjoy a healthy and happy mouth, and that is something to smile about!