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 It’s Never too Late to Straighten Your Smile

Braces as an adult? No way. At least, that was what I thought when my dentist told me that I was going to have to see an orthodontist about my crooked teeth. But my teeth were so misaligned that they were causing me pain when I chewed, so I decided to at least look into it. Turns out braces today are nothing like the ones my friends had when I was a kid. Mine were practically invisible, and I didn't need to wear them that long. I started this blog to encourage other people like me who are nervous about the prospect of wearing braces as an adult. My straight smile is so worth the trips to the orthodontist, and wearing braces was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Read on to find out more about how you can straighten your smile.

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It’s Never too Late to Straighten Your Smile

How Gender Differences Play Out In Dental And Oral Health

by Jacqueline Byrd

Many things can affect your oral health, but did you know that your sex may have an influence on your dental and oral health? Here are some of the factors that may trigger these differences:

The Prevalence of Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety, which manifests itself as the intense fear of going to the dentist or getting dental treatments, manifests itself in different frequencies in women and men. For example, some research shows that women experience more dental anxiety than men. This means more women require more help with dental anxieties than men.

The Effect of Hormones

The balance of hormones in your body has an effect on your dental health. Since women experience more hormonal fluctuations than men, there are times when their risk of dental diseases increases. This may be the case, for example, when a woman is pregnant or when they are menstruating. For example, a spike in progesterone production increases the risk of swollen gums and oral bleeding.

Strictness with Dental Care

There is evidence that women are more careful with their dental hygiene and health than men. Specifically, women are more likely to brush and floss on a regular schedule than men. Not only that, but women are also more likely to visit the dentist than men. All these give women an edge when it comes to dental health.

The Effect of Smoking

Statistics show that men use tobacco products more than women. Unfortunately, tobacco (in its various forms including vapors and cigarettes) is not good for your teeth. Here are some of the ways in which tobacco use can affect your dental and oral health:

  • By discoloring your teeth
  • By giving you bad breath
  • By accelerating jawbone deterioration
  • By increasing your risk of oral cancer

The Effects of High Blood Pressure Medications

Some medications can affect your oral health negatively; a good example is high blood pressure medications. High blood pressure medications can cause bleeding gums, swollen gums, and dry mouth conditions, all of which can cause further complications if not taken care of. There are indications that more men than women suffer from cardiovascular diseases including high blood pressure.  

Accidental Injuries

Lastly, men are also likely to incur accidental injuries that cause teeth damages than women. This is probably because men play more risky sports and take more risks in general than women. This may cause men to incur higher incidences of broken, lost, or cracked teeth.

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