In many oral health studies, it has been shown that the single most dangerous factor to a man’s oral health is in his reluctance to visit the dentist. Men often take the ``silent`` approach, seeing their health care professional less frequently than women, and often only when there is a problem.
For instance, in the American Dental Association's 2003 Public Opinion Survey: Oral Health of the U.S. Population, women were more likely than men to brush their teeth after every meal (28.7% to 20.5%) or twice a day (56.8% to 49%). The survey also revealed women were more likely to visit a dentist than men (89.2% to 74.6%).
Gum disease predisposes you to many illnesses including heart disease.
Diseased gums allow bacteria to pass into the bloodstream, bypassing the body’s defences, and the body must work harder to destroy the bacteria. If the body is not successful, the bacteria may cause serious illness.
Usually, the body does kill the bacteria, but not without a cost. The cost is excess inflammation from the immune system working in overdrive to kill the bacteria. This is particularly bad for the heart because inflammation makes blood vessels fragile and prone to clot and plaque formation. Even small blockages in vessels make the heart function less efficiently and that can contribute to developing impotence and dementia. If blockages get big enough they can cause a heart attack or stroke. Healthy gums are a great way to fight this. Cleaning your teeth every 3 months is the optimum recommended interval to reduce your oral bacteria count and minimize gum disease.
Some facts about men:
- Men who smoke or chew tobacco are at twice the risk for gum disease or oral cancer. 90% of oral cancers occur after age 45
- Men are also more likely to be on heart medications which often cause dry mouth. These lower levels of saliva flow may cause a higher risk of cavities.
- If you play sports, like hockey, you face a greater potential for trauma to the mouth and teeth. Wear a custom fitted mouthguard made by Dr. Steffens and her team to protect your valuable teeth.
- Regardless of gender, it is important to visit Dr. Steffens and her team at least twice a year. Inform Dr. Steffens and her team of any medications you are taking, as well as tobacco use and sports activities. In between visits, floss daily and brush your teeth for 3 minutes twice daily.
VISITING DR. STEFFENS EVERY 3 MONTHS IS THE OPTIMUM RECOMMENDED INTERVAL TO MINIMIZE GUM DISEASE!