It’s surprising, but there are significant oral health differences between men and women. This information should help you take better care of your mouth, and therefore, of your body. Let’s take a look.

Myth: Men and Women Have Different Mouth Structures. This Affects Oral Health.

There are no structural differences in the mouths of men and women. They both have teeth, a tongue, gums, and jaws. They have milk teeth and then adult teeth. Both are susceptible to gum disease and oral cancer. The differences lie in the rest of the body. Women go through more hormonal changes than men. These negatively affect teeth if proper care isn’t provided. Men, though, are at higher risk for throat and oral cancer, oral HPV, and sleep apnea.

Fact: The Physical Activities Chosen by Men and Women Can Impact Their Oral Health.

Men play more contact sports than women. This can lead to more tooth injury, even with protective equipment like a mouthguard. Mouthguards may also minimize the effects of concussions. They can’t prevent them, but a well-fitting guard supports your jaws and may reduce the result of an impact. Take your mouthguard along on regular checkups to ensure that it’s still in good condition.

Myth: Men Are More Proactive than Women About Health

A study shows that women are almost twice as likely as men to have visited a dentist in the past year. Women also seem to have a better attitude towards dental care and are more committed to daily oral hygiene practices. Men only visit dentists when urgent care is needed. But married men visit more often because it’s likely that their wives make them.

Fact: Both Men and Women Experience Bad Breath But For Different Reasons

Bad breath can be caused by poor dental care or other underlying medical issues. Men are more likely to be smokers. This affects breath freshness. They’re also likely to be on heart and blood pressure medication which can also affect breath. Women are more prone to gum disease, which can cause halitosis. Other reasons include sinus infection, tonsil stones, or eating pungent foods.

Most oral care issues are preventable with simple, daily oral practices and regular visits to your dentist.