Blog Highlights:

• Men are most likely to skip their yearly dental checkups than women, studies show
• Men who have a history if gum disease are known to have a high risk for certain cancers
• Only 66% of the men involved in a study admit to being able to brush their teeth twice a day
• Men who have gums that easily bleed, who use tobacco, or who play in contact sports, should make more effort when it comes to their oral health

Whether we accept it or not, studies have shown that male individuals are more likely to skip their yearly dental checkups than women.

According to a national survey, women are known to brush more often, and more thoroughly than men. As a matter of fact, as much as 88% of the women who were included in the study reported that they brush their teeth twice a day. On the other hand, only 66% of the men in the same study are able to do the same.

The study also found out that women frequently replace their toothbrushes, while men fail to do so on a regular basis.

To make matters worse, men who have a history of gum disease, have a high risk for developing certain kinds of cancer such as blood cancers, pancreatic cancer, and cancer of the kidney, than those who have kept their teeth and gums healthy.

Since most men are proven guilty when it comes to not taking care of their oral health, here are some important things that men have to consider for their own health:

Men should brush their teeth twice a day for at least two full minutes. Men should use fluoride toothpastes during brushing. And men should also use mouthwash and floss on a daily basis.

Men should also visit their dentists for routine checkups and cleaning at least once per year.

Toothbrushes have to be replaced every three months, or after going through an illness.

Men should give more attention to their oral health if their gums bleed after brushing or flossing, if they use tobacco, if they use medications that can cause dry mouth, and if they participate in contact sports. These men should make more effort to see their dentists regularly and to maintain their oral hygiene daily as they have a greater risk for having oral health problems later on.