The Dental Law Partnership has urged men not to neglect their oral health, as dentist waiting lists mount up in lockdown.
A recent study by YouGov found that three in ten Brits don’t brush their teeth as per the recommended twice a day. At 25 per cent vs 36 per cent, men are also less likely to floss than women.
Working class men (those in the C2DE socio-economic grade) are also brushing less frequently than their middle class (ABC1) counterparts. When it comes to seeking professional care, the same trend occurs. According to behavioural studies, men are less likely to visit the hygienist than women, with 34 per cent of men never having been to a hygienist compared to 28 per cent of women.
Not only do men present insufficient teeth brushing, but this also leads onto more gum problems, with 34 per cent of men from 30-54 years old suffering periodontal disease compared to female counterparts (23 per cent), which, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss.
Whilst maintaining healthy teeth and gums can help towards preventing periodontal disease and tooth loss and has even been linked to longevity (impacting your heart, lungs and even your ability to sleep), is the importance of dental care and regular check-ups being ignored by men?
In short, the figures say yes. Studies have suggested that when it comes to medical grievances, men are much more likely to power through and resist a trip to the doctor than women, and there are also concerns that men can be resistant to seeing the dentist too. In the current Covid-19 climate, with dentist waiting lists at an all-time high, this hesitancy is could be causing serious health issues for men.
Cancer Research UK revealed that one in 55 UK males will develop mouth cancer, which is nearly double the risk of the UK female, with one in 108 females developing the disease. In UK males, head and neck cancer is the tenth most common cause of cancer death, in comparison to the 17th most common cancer for women.
It is well known that the earlier that mouth cancer is spotted and treated, the better the chances are of a good long-term outcome. Put simply, men are more likely to develop mouth cancer than women, and their chances of a good outcome are lower than women’s, arguably in part because men don’t seek help from the dentist early enough.
With the increased risk of gum disease in men, it’s important that the early signs and symptoms are recognised. Although the UK is currently placed in its third lockdown, with restrictions to continue, dentists are still open, and men can use a gum disease symptoms checker from the Dental Law Partnership to prevent tooth loss here.
The Dental Law Partnership advises that if you have any of the signs or symptoms on their gum disease checker, or are concerned that you may have gum disease, then you should contact your dentist. The Dental Law Partnership recommends making regular routine visits to the dentist in order to ensure your oral health is being monitored by a trained professional. If your dentist has not recognised any of the above signs or symptoms in previous appointments and you have been diagnosed with gum disease or experienced tooth loss, you may be entitled to compensation.
Discussing the link between men neglecting their dental care and their increased risk of tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss, The Dental Law Partnership said, “Men are more likely to develop gum disease and experience tooth loss compared to women, which when combined with concerns that men are less likely to visit the dentist, is clearly worrying, and we urge men to do more to preserve their gums and teeth. Oral health is of crucial importance and your dentist should be completely aware of the risks of gum disease for you, and the need to identify issues in your mouth and refer you early for specialist diagnosis and treatment.
“The pressures of lockdown, reduced dental service capacity and government restrictions may all play a part in increasing numbers of missed cases of gum disease but we implore all patients, and men in particular, to be aware of the risks to them, make sure they know the signs and symptoms of gum disease and to contact their dentist if they have any concerns, as well as ensuring they have regular dental appointments.”
For more information about the Dental Law Partnership visit dentallaw.co.uk