Father’s Day And Dental Health

You want the men in your life to be healthy, and with the strong link between dental health and systemic health, their tooth health is a good place to start. New research indicates that men develop periodontal disease more often than women, so it’s time to encourage the men in your life to visit the dentist. A healthy mouth can mean a healthy body, so this Father’s Day give the man in your life the gift of health by scheduling an appointment with your northwest Indiana dentist, Dr. Nicholas Cain.

Men’s Health

It’s already a well-known fact that men are at greater risk for heart disease than women, but now a new study indicates that a higher percentage of men develop periodontal disease (gum disease) than women–56 percent to 38 percent, respectively.   Gum disease has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and other diseases putting men at even higher risk for heart disease, and at risk for other illnesses as well.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease develops, most often, due to poor dental habits, and according to statistics, men do not take care of their teeth, or attend to their dental health as well as women. When men visit the dentist, their teeth have more plaque buildup and tartar than women. Men also visit the dentist only half as much as their female counterparts. Another reason why men develop periodontal disease more often than women may include the fact that smoking and other tobacco use heightens the risk of developing gum disease by increasing the buildup of plaque and tartar on teeth. Statistics show that 20.5 percent of men as opposed to 15.8 percent of women smoke, and over 90 percent of men use some other form of tobacco.

Gum Disease And Other Health Issues

The existence of periodontal symptoms in men raises their PSA levels. PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is an enzyme associated with prostate health. The level of PSA in men with unhealthy prostates is higher than in men with healthy prostates. So a rise in PSA levels due to periodontal disease may contribute to prostate disease. Periodontal disease can also cause impotence, particularly in men in their 30s, due to inflamed blood vessels, and certain types of cancers in men, including blood cancers, kidney cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

About Nicholas Cain, DDS.

As a native of northwest Indiana, Nicholas Cain, DDS, is dedicated to providing excellent general, preventive, cosmetic, and family dentistry services to the community that raised him. To schedule your next dental appointment, call Healthy Smiles today at 219-938-2637.