Dental Health and Hygiene for Clinton Township Men

Earlier this month we talked about women’s unique oral health needs. We know men have needs too! This article will address your special situations and offer some advice about how to keep your smiles healthy and attractive for life.

Remember that men are:

• less likely to visit the dentist than their female peers.

• more likely to be taking heart medications that can affect oral health.

• affected by gum disease and oral cancer twice as often as women.

Avoiding the Dentist

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, men are less likely than women to seek preventive dental care and often neglect their oral health for years, visiting a dentist only when a problem arises. They are also less likely to brush and floss as recommended – the average man brushes his teeth only 1.9 times a day. This all adds up to a higher risk for tooth loss and most men have lost  5.4 teeth by age 72.

Medications

Many medications can cause dry mouth and dry mouth can lead to all kinds of oral health problems including cavities and gum disease. To help increase your saliva flow try:

• Chewing sugarless or Xylitol  gum

• Using an alcohol-free mouth rinse

• Avoiding soda, alcohol, and limit your intake of caffeine

• Avoiding smoking

Smoking

Speaking of smoking, male smokers are at greater risk for developing oral or pharyngeal  cancer. Smoking can also lead to tooth loss.

Sports

Of course, women play sports too, but men are a bit more prone to sports injuries than their female counterparts, with young men suffering traumatic tooth injuries 2-3 times more often than young women. If you play contact sports, it is especially important that you wear a mouth guard. Custom made and fitted mouth guards from our Clinton Township dental office are more comfortable and effective than drugstore or sporting goods store mouth guards.

Maintaining Your Healthy Smile

It is important that men brush their teeth and floss at least twice a day, and visit the dentist at least twice a year for cleanings. At our Clinton Township dental office, Dr. Alex or Sophia Masters we will perform a thorough screening for any oral health problems that may be developing, including an oral cancer screening. For more information about our dental services and how we can help keep you, or the man in your life, health and smiling, call our Clinton Township dental office.

About The Author

Dr. Sophia Papasifakis Masters

Dr. Sophia Masters boasts 33 years of experience in the field of dentistry. Skilled in different dental procedures, she had advanced training in several prestigious dental institutions such as the Kois Center and The Dawson Center for Advanced Dentistry. She is a professional member of several dental organizations, including the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. Additionally, she actively volunteers for Donated Dental Services, among others, and was an adjunct clinical faculty at Detroit Mercy Dental and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Read The Full Bio