Is There a Difference Between Men’s and Women’s Dental Health?

At Sunrise Dental, we treat all of our patients equally, regardless of gender and gender identity. However, there can be differences between men’s dental health and women’s dental health, depending on the individual patient. Your gender could influence your daily habits and your overall health, so sometimes men and women require different types of dental care. 

Men and Dental Health

Overall, men have higher rates of gum disease, tooth loss, and oral infections. Because men typically have poor dental habits, men tend to have more dental health problems than women. This statistic stems mainly from lifestyle choices, rather than a biological predisposition.  

Men tend to have higher blood pressure, which puts them at greater risk for heart disease later in life. Medications that treat these conditions can cause dry mouth, which puts men’s oral health at risk.

Elderly men typically have fewer teeth than women of the same age, and need dentures more frequently than women do. Research shows a correlation between tooth loss and body mass index. However, in the case of elderly men having fewer teeth than elderly women, it boils down to poor dental habits that accumulated over time. 

Women and Dental Health

A study performed by the National Library of Medicine hypothesized that women have better oral health behavior, oral hygiene, and periodontal status than men. Researchers concluded that while young women do in fact have better oral hygiene compared to men, women having better oral hygiene and periodontal status but exhibit more dental cavities than men was not supported by the findings. 

During pregnancy, hormonal changes increase a woman’s risk of developing gingivitis as well as periodontal disease. Also known as gum disease, periodontal disease damages the soft tissue and bones that support your teeth. Pregnancy makes your gums more inflamed and prone to bleeding. Bleeding gums is also known as gingivitis. As a preventative measure, we offer diode laser therapy for gum health. 

Dental Treatment for All

Scheduling frequent dentist appointments for professional cleaning and laser therapy can help prevent future procedures and disease that might be associated with dental hygiene neglect. Sunrise Dental in Glendale specializes in preventative care as well as diagnosing periodontal diseases. Contact us to make an appointment today.

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