Who Takes Better Care of Their Teeth...men or women

Who Takes Better Care of Their Teeth -- Men or Women?

(Newstream) -- Diets and exercise were at the top of most Americans' lists of millennium resolutions, but according to a recent poll, men should consider adding brushing and flossing to the list this New Year's. The online survey, conducted by the Butler GUMŽ brand of oral care products, sought to answer the question "Who takes better care of their teeth and gums, men or women?" The results indicate men could use a "brush up" on good oral care.

Twenty percent of the men surveyed admit they never floss, compared to just 10 percent of women. The sexes were also divided in their reasons for infrequent flossing. "Not enough time" and "forget/don't think about it" top the list of reasons offered by women. Men also cited "not enough time" as a major reason for not flossing, but "lazy" came in a close second. Both genders fall short of recommended practices, with only one-third of respondents saying they floss daily.

These results correspond with a recent poll of periodontists conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology. The online poll found 97 percent of periodontists reported their female patients practice better oral hygiene habits than males.

Although experts recommend brushing at least two times a day, another survey conducted by the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA) found that more women than men (22 percent vs. 16 percent) brush their teeth three times a day, while 22 percent of men brush their teeth just once a day or less.

Maria Perno, RDH, MS, former president of the ADHA and national health consultant, has witnessed the pattern of gender differences in oral care habits with her patients and in clinical studies.

"As a hygienist, I've seen that men are terribly lax when it comes to proper oral care," Ms. Perno said. "As a result, despite that women may be more prone to developing gum disease during certain life cycles, such as pregnancy or menopause, men still have a higher rate of gum disease."

Brushing Teeth 101

In the Butler GUMŽ survey, more of the female survey participants (66 percent) than male participants (54 percent) correctly identified the recommended way to brush your teeth, that is, using a circular motion along the gumline with bristles at a 45-degree angle.

The survey also shows a large discrepancy -- about one minute -- between the average amounts of time all respondents feel they should spend brushing their teeth vs. the amount of time they actually spend brushing. Experts recommend brushing for two to three minutes.