The battle of the sexes has been a long-lasting tug of war over who does what better. Now, that battle has moved into the bathroom to determine who takes better care of their teeth: men or women?
According to a study by the British Dental Health Foundation, 35% of men regularly skip brushing at night! That may seem bad, but it’s the ladies who are the most likely to neglect their teeth at bedtime. A whopping 59% of women surveyed admitted to regularly skipping brushing their teeth before hitting the sack.
There may be hope for the women though. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology shows that women are almost twice as likely to go to their regular dental examinations as men. Women also tend to take the dentist’s advice regarding future treatment.
In contrast, men are less likely than women to seek preventive dental care and often neglect their oral health for years:
- The average man is less likely to brush his teeth after every meal (20.5 percent compared with 28.7 percent for women).
- The average man is less likely to brush his teeth twice a day (49 percent compared with 56.8 percent for women).
- Men are more likely to develop periodontal (gum) disease than women:
- 30 to 54 years: 34 percent of men compared with 23 percent of women
- 55 to 90 years: 56 percent of men compared to 44 percent of women.
While men are a little less diligent about caring for their oral health, we’re declaring this one a draw as it’s clear that both sexes could improve their oral health habits.
