Make a difference this Movember
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 11th November 2020
Although many people joke about why women live longer than men, the numbers don’t lie. The average life expectancy at birth for men in the UK is around 79 years, compared to that of women at almost 83 years.[i] More men than women also die prematurely, with statistics showing that, on average, men are dying 6 years earlier than the opposite sex and for largely preventable reasons.[ii], [iii] It is clear that men’s health is in crisis, which is why it is important to raise awareness and improve our understanding of the health risks that men face. There’s no better time to start doing this than Movember.
Poor health outcomes in men have been linked to several factors besides genetics. For instance, men tend to participate in more risk-taking behaviour – including smoking and drinking alcohol to excess – compared to women, and experience greater levels of occupational exposure to various hazards. Moreover, it is thought that traditional ideas of masculinity influence men’s attitudes towards health, making them less likely to visit a doctor when they are ill. Even if they do visit a doctor, the chances of reporting symptoms of disease or illness are lower among men than women.[iv] This is as true for physical ailments as for mental ones – around 1 in 8 men have a common mental health problem, but many are reluctant to seek professional support or to disclose such an issue to loved ones.[v][vi]
In fact, a 2016 survey by Opinion Leader for the Men’s Health Forum found that the majority of men would take time off work to get medical help for physical complications such as bloody stool or urine, unexpected lumps or chest pain, yet fewer than one in five said they would do the same for anxiety or if they were feeling low.[vii] The risk of this behaviour is that men are more likely to use potentially harmful coping mechanisms like drug or alcohol abuse in response to distress and, sadly, some men simply become overwhelmed. Three quarters of people in the UK who kill themselves are men and suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under the age of 50.[viii], [ix]
The picture isn’t much better for men’s physical health. Although the research is complicated, men are typically at greater risk than women of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) at some point in their lives. Indeed, deaths caused by coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke remains higher among men than women, with 75% of premature deaths from CHD being male.[x], [xi] Men are also at higher risk of type 2 diabetes and it is estimated that men account for 56% of those diagnosed with this condition in the UK. Furthermore, of all the cancers that can affect both sexes, men are 56% more likely to develop one of these cancers and 67% more likely to die from the disease.[xii] Prostate cancer, in particular, is a leading cause of death in males, with around 11,700 prostate cancer deaths occurring in the UK every year, which equates to 32 men dying every day.[xiii]
Perhaps it’s unsurprising that men lag behind women again when it comes to oral health. Figures show that approximately 77% of women brush at least twice a day compared to only 69% of men, who are also less likely to floss.[xiv], [xv] Additionally, more than three in five men regret not taking better care of their oral health earlier in life, according to the Oral Health Foundation.[xvi] Considering their less-than-ideal oral care habits and their tendency to avoid visiting the dentist, it’s no wonder that men are more likely to develop periodontal disease, the prevalence of which is demonstrably higher in men compared to women.[xvii] These statistics are worrying, given that conditions such as diabetes and CVD can be exacerbated by the inflammatory nature of periodontal disease.[xviii] Furthermore, men with a history of periodontal disease are at an increased risk of developing cancer compared to men who have healthy gums.[xix]
It is vital that dental professionals educate men about the importance of effective oral hygiene, especially as it is key to maintaining overall health. Oral care guidance should be provided that involves combining daily interdental cleaning with twice-daily toothbrushing for two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste. Perio Plus+ Forte mouth rinse can be recommended to temporarily support at-home oral care in the case of patients who are at higher risk of oral disease, including those who are currently recovering from invasive dental treatments such as periodontal therapy or dental implant surgery. As Perio Plus+ Forte contains both chlorhexidine and CITROX® – a natural bioflavonoid extracted from bitter oranges – it offers powerful microbial protection in order to minimise the risk of infection.
The improvement of men’s health is an ongoing challenge with no straightforward solution. However, we can all make a difference by providing a safe and secure space for men to come forward and discuss their health concerns, so that they can be appropriately addressed. The dental team plays a vital role in supporting and encouraging men to take action now for the benefit of ensuring they lead longer, happier and healthier lives.
For more information please call 01480 862084, email info@curaprox.co.uk or visit www.perioplus.com/uk
[i] Office for National Statistics. (2019) National life tables, UK: 2016 to 2018. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/lifeexpectancies/bulletins/nationallifetablesunitedkingdom/2016to2018. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[ii] Dobson, R. (2006) Men are more likely than women to die early. BMJ. 333(7561): 220. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.333.7561.220-c.
[iii] Movember. (2020) Men’s Health. Available at: https://uk.movember.com/mens-health/general. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[iv] World Health Organization. (2014) Review of social determinants and the health divide in the WHO European Region: executive summary. Available at: http://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/review-of-social-determinants-and-the-health-divide-in-the-who-european-region-final-report/who-european-review-exec-summary.pdf. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[v] McManus, S., Bebbington, P., Jenkins, R., Brugha, T. et al. (2016) Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. Leeds: NHS Digital. Available at: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20180328130852tf_/http://content.digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB21748/apms-2014-full-rpt.pdf/. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[vi] Mental Health Foundation. (2016) Survey of people with lived experience of mental health problems reveals men less likely to seek medical support. Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/news/survey-people-lived-experience-mental-health-problems-reveals-men-less-likely-seek-medical. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[vii] Men’s Health Forum. (2016) Male attitudes to primary care. Available at: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/male-attitudes-primary-care. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[viii] Office for National Statistics. (2019) Suicides in the UK: 2018 registrations. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2018registrations. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[ix] Samaritans. (2019) Suicide statistics report: Latest statistics for the UK and Republic of Ireland. Available at: https://media.samaritans.org/documents/SamaritansSuicideStatsReport_2019_Full_report.pdf. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[x] Bots, S. H., Peters, S. A. E. and Woodward, M. (2017) Sex differences in coronary heart disease and stroke mortality: a global assessment of the effect of ageing between 1980 and 2010. BMJ Global Health. 2: e000298. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000298.
[xi] Men’s Health Forum. (2014) Men’s Health Manifesto. Available at: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/mens_health_manifesto_lr.pdf. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[xii] Men’s Health Forum. (2014) Men and cancer. Available at: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/men-and-cancer. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[xiii] Cancer Research UK. (Unknown). Prostate cancer statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/prostate-cancer#heading-One. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[xiv] Denplan. (2019) Consumer Oral Health Survey 2019. Available at: https://www.denplan.co.uk/news/my-teeth-blog/consumer-oral-health-survey-2019. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[xv] Smith, M. (2017) Three in ten Brits only brush their teeth once a day. YouGov. Available at: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2017/10/23/three-ten-brits-only-brush-their-teeth-once-day. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[xvi] Loat, S. (2019) Superman Syndrome – why men need to take better care of their oral health. Oral Health Foundation. Available at: https://www.dentalhealth.org/blog/superman-syndrome-why-men-need-to-take-better-care-of-their-oral-health. [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
[xvii] Ioannidou, E. (2017) The Sex and Gender Intersection in Chronic Periodontitis. Front Public Health. 5: 189. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00189.
[xviii] Liccardo, D., Cannavo, A., Spagnuolo, G., Ferrara, N., Cittadini, A., Rengo, C. and Rengo, G. (2019) Periodontal Disease: A Risk Factor for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 20(6): 1414. DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061414.
[xix] NHS. (2008) Gum disease link to cancer risk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/news/cancer/gum-disease-link-to-cancer-risk/#:~:text=When%20they%20looked%20specific%20cancers,%2C%20(30%25%20increase). [Last accessed: 06.08.20].
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