A quick internet search on “men and dental health” will show that men are simply less likely to take care of their teeth and gums. With all the hard scientific dental data available linking dental issues with major health conditions such as heart disease, strokes, compromised immune systems and more, men still tend to procrastinate far more than women when it comes to their oral health.

According to new research in the Journal of Periodontology, men are almost twice as likely to completely ignore this important and often overlooked segment of our health and well-being. The National Institutes of Health says that dentists are in a unique position to identify a host of issues and early signs of ailments, such as rheumatoid arthritis, acid reflux (exponentially accelerates tooth erosion), oral cancer, celiac disease (leads to tooth discoloration, spots, banded/grooved look on teeth), osteoporosis, increased risk of heart attack and stroke and more.

Men increase their odds of having major dental problems over women due to specifics such as putting pain off, less homecare attention, being on more medications than women (many of which can lead to dry mouth), contact sports or physical hobbies, increased tobacco use (especially chewing tobacco), and maybe some good old-fashioned pride/avoidance. As a result, men have more plaque, more bleeding and swollen gums, bad breath, fewer teeth and far more trouble with their bite. Statistics support that men are on more medications, and a result of many meds is less saliva, which makes for a dry mouth. We need saliva to wash cavity-causing bacteria away. Men are also more likely to develop throat, tongue and other mouth cancers.

While it is difficult for the experts to be conclusive about what percent of the above conditions are dentally induced, we know from extensive research they most certainly are dentally involved. There are excellent products, dentists and information out there to support men with the increasingly growing gap of health issues related to dental avoidance. Procrastinating invites far greater costs, pain and side effects. Consistent monitoring with a dental professional, proper homecare and addressing any problems early on can save tens of thousands of dollars.

Holistic dentistry focuses on overall wellness as a standard practice, from material testing to alternative approaches to gum problems. A holistic dentist can remove toxic mercury/amalgam fillings safely. They provide noninvasive approaches to TMJ, which affects one’s bite, and as a result, their entire structural alignment. TMJ symptoms are accelerated even more by stress, clenching or an overlooked imbalance.

It is not recommended to exceed six months between dental visits (sooner if something is wrong), but we are individuals. What works for one person may not be the same for the next. Therefore, it is important to locate a dental office where we feel comfortable and our unique needs are acknowledged, as it is a cooperative effort to achieve and maintain dental and overall health.

Having and maintaining daily oral health practices is a key to a long healthy life for both sexes, even if it is not our favorite thing to do as males. Putting dentistry off simply costs more. It costs our health, our vitality, our confidence and therefore our quality of life.

Medicine Wheel Dental & Wellness Center is located at 4650 W. Jojoba Dr., in Tucson. For more information, call 520-743-7101 or visit
MedicineWheelDental.com. See ad, back cover.