Working With The Right Dentist

3 Things All Men Need To Know About Gum Disease

5 October 2015

Pamela Watkins

Some of the biggest medical breakthroughs in recent years have been discoveries on how oral health can affect the health of a person's entire body. Gum disease has been associated with increased chances of heart problems and stroke in both genders. As a man, you may not realize that gum disease is associated with several diseases specific to your gender. Here are three things every man needs to know about gum disease and their health.

1. More Men Suffer from Gum Disease Than Women

An astounding 56 percent of men have gum disease. Just over 38 percent of women have it. While this statistic may sound like it includes people in developing countries with little access to dental care, it actually represents people in the United States. That means that if you suspect you may have gum disease and are not sure, then the odds are that, as a man, you likely do.

Don't let the statistic alarm you more than it has to, because it does include men with every stage of gum disease. If you are just developing it and catch it in its early stages, it can be reversed relatively easily with proper dental care. However, the longer you wait to treat it, the worse it will get, until it reaches a point where the damage it causes, such as recessed gums, can only be treated with surgery.

2. Gum Disease in Men is Strongly Correlated with ED

If you experience erectile dysfunction, or ED, frequently, then your first instinct may be to ask your general physician for medication that can improve your function. While you should always alert any changes in your health to your doctor, the key to relieving it may be treating your gum disease.

Recent studies have shown that men who suffer from erectile dysfunction are 79 percent more likely to have gum disease. It is believed that the inflammation that gum disease causes in all blood vessels in the body may strike the vessels in the penis first, as they are very small. This inflammation impairs blood-flow to your penis, which is needed to form an erection.

3. Gum Disease Can Also Cause Prostate Problems

If you have difficulty urinating, then you may have a condition called prostatitis. While sometimes caused by infection, it is usually caused by general prostate inflammation. With the first signs of this condition, it is very important for your doctor to rule out an infection. If no infection is found, then the problem is considered one caused by inflammation, and if you also have gum disease, then getting your gums healthy may cure your prostate.

A study conducted on 27 men who had both prostatitis and gum disease showed that treating the gum disease alone improved or eliminated the prostatitis in 21 of the men. While not every man in the study was cured by treating their gum disease, the odds are in your favor if you decide to commit to better oral care and have prostate inflammation.

Healthy gums are important for a healthy body. If you have gum disease and are a man, then be aware of how it can affect your health. If you think you may have gum disease, which many men do, then the first step to eliminating it is visiting a dentist to have your teeth cleaned and a treatment plan formed. Click here to learn more.

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