Men’s Oral Health and Hygiene
Not everybody loves going to the dentist, and most of us probably know somebody who is always putting these visits off. There are many people guilty of this, but it seems as though men are more likely to miss out on their yearly or bi-yearly exam. It is important to keep up your oral health and hygiene.
Women Have the men Beat
• A national poll reported women brush more frequently and longer than men do.
• While 85% of women say they brush morning and night, 66% of men say they only brush in the mornings.
• Women replace their toothbrushes more often than men.
Studies have shown that having a history of mouth disease, particularly gum disease, means that you are more likely than those people with healthy gums to develop certain types of cancer. Types of cancer associated with gum diseases are kidney, pancreatic, and blood cancers. Because men are known to take less care of their oral hygiene, below are a few ways to be extra cautious with your oral health:
Best Practices for your Oral Health
• Best practices are to brush your teeth twice a day, but a third time never hurts. Make sure your brush for at least two minutes.
• When purchasing toothpaste, try to make sure your toothpaste has fluoride.
• After brushing, use mouthwash and make sure you floss daily.
• If you brushed your teeth while being sick, make sure you replace your toothbrush. If you have made it 3 months without being sick, (congrats on staying healthy) it is now time for a new brush.
• Many people visit the dentist once every 6 months, but make sure you are going at least once a year.
• If you typically have bleeding gums after your brush or floss, have a dry-mouth due to certain types of medication, smoke or use chewing tobacco, or you are an active athlete, you should visit the dentist more regularly. These activities can put you at greater risk for having oral health issues.