Men and Oral Health: A Review of Sex and Gender Differences

Abstract

Sex and gender related health disparities in oral health remain an underappreciated and often over looked aspect of well-being. The goal of this narrative review is to identify sex and gender related oral health disparities by summarizing the current literature related to differences in oral health between men and women. The review identified that men are more likely to: ignore their oral health, have poorer oral hygiene habits, and experience higher rates of periodontal disease, oral cancer, and dental trauma. Men also visit dentists less frequently and compared to women seek oral treatment more often for an acute problem and less often for disease prevention. Women exhibit more positive attitudes about dental visits, greater oral health literacy, and demonstrate better oral health behaviors than men. Men disproportionately develop periodontal diseases due to a combination of biological and gender related reasons including immune system factors, hormone differences, poorer oral hygiene behaviors, and greater tobacco use. There is a male to female ratio of 2:1 for oral cancer, largely attributable to more tobacco use, heavier use of alcohol, and longer sun exposure. Minority men experience a disproportionate burden of oral health disparities because of both their gender and race/ethnic identities. In conclusion, this review identifies several differences between men and women related to oral health and highlights the need for further research to better understand these disparities and how to incorporate them into developing prevention, education and treatment strategies to improve oral health in men.

Impact of Oral Health Educational Interventions on Oral Hygiene Status of Children with Hearing Loss: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…It has been reported multiple times in the studies that females tend to have better oral hygiene as compared to males [ 30 ]. This might be due to females tend to visit dentists more often as compared to males and are more concerned about their oral hygiene [ 31 ].…”

Risk of coronary heart disease in patients with periodontitis among the middled-aged and elderly in China: a cohort study

“…It should be noted that the age is reported in years, which means age may explain more disparity for this association. For sex, previous studies identified that men disproportionately develop periodontal diseases due to a combination of biological and gender related reasons including immune system factors, hormone differences, poorer oral hygiene behaviors, and greater tobacco use [ 23 ]. Compared with women, men also reported a significantly higher prevalence of CHD [ 24 , 25 ].…”

The impact of socioeconomic statu on patients with oral and maxillofacial injuries

“…Discussions: In this study, the social status of patients was analyzed with the help of indicators that would reflect as objectively as possible the socio-economic level de o neglijare din partea persoanelor de sex masculin a igienei orale, neglijarea faţă de sănătatea orală și adresarea mult mai întârziată după asistenţă medicală. 4 Vârsta, un alt indicator luat în calcul, ne induce următoare părere. Desigur, la pacienţii cu vârsta mai tânără, până la 30 de ani, starea sănătăţii orale este una mai bună, sunt prezente puţine extracţii efectuate sau acestea lipsesc în totalmente.…”

“…The proportion of 2/3 of female patients and 1/3 of male patients who presented to the doctor and wanted to participate in the study, is not determined by an unequal access to dental care, but rather by a negligence on the part of male individuals, oral hygiene neglection, neglection of the oral health and late request for medical care. 4 Age, another indicator taken into account, leads us to the following opinion. In younger patients, up to 30 years, the state of oral health is better, there are few extractions performed or they are completely missing.…”