By Dr Sparkman Ferguson
CNN reported last week that 80 per cent of American men can remember all the details of their first car, but could not recall their last medical checkup. This is a very interesting finding.
In the Bahamas, these kinds of statistics have not been visited, but there are some things in dentistry that are known without the benefit of statistics. One of them is that men do everything pertaining to their dental health to a lesser degree than women.
It is true that men from different cultures behave culturally differently, but across the board, men are still men. For that reason, I will refer in this article to statistics from our US colleagues to address the oral health of men in our community.
According to the surveys conducted by the American Dental Association, men are less likely than women to seek preventive dental care and often neglect their oral health for years on end. This is also true in the Bahamas.
Here are some facts:
The average man is less likely to brush his teeth after every meal (20.5 per cent compared with 28.7 per cent for women)
The average man is less likely to brush his teeth twice a day (49 per cent compared with 56.8 per cent for women)
Men are more likely to develop gum disease than are women. Between the ages of 30-54 years, 34 per cent of men have gum disease compared to 23 per cent of women. Between the ages of 55-90 years, 58 per cent of men have gum disease compared to 44 per cent of women.
While all these stats are bad for men and women, it is clinically noteworthy that in each case the prevalence of dental disease in men at every age is higher.
The reasons for the dental neglect seen in men have not been studied in the Bahamas. However, cursory conversations with men have revealed the following:
• Men are generally more ignorant about dental health matters
• Men are generally more fearful of dental professionals
• Men are generally invincible and feel that “nothing can be wrong with them”
• Men are generally not compliant and do not follow through with treatment suggestions
• Where good-looking teeth are concerned, men feel as though aesthetics is a female concern.
• By the age of 50, many men feel as though they are accomplished and find no further need to “chase” after health matters
• Men are generally not interested in spending money on dental health treatment
Conclusion
Men are obviously at greater risk for the development of dental health concerns. This is generally and attitudinal concern and can only be corrected with a change of attitude toward health matters. In addition to this, an increase in health knowledge can help. Ignorance to dental health matters only increases the risks for men.
Professional advice: In light of the disturbing statistics encircling men, it is advisable that special attention be given to males at an early age. It is through education that attitudes in men can be changed and they can then begin to embrace healthy dental lifestyles. I advise men to wise up and become more vigilant and accept the fact that health is for all.
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