‘Men interested in improving their oral hygiene’

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Oral health impacts on general health, is associated with chronic diseases and on Wednesday, a dentist in Dubai gave advice on how men take care of their teeth and gums.

The dentist is Dr. Ghadir Atout who laid out five tips not only in relation to a recent US study and her own observation in the region that men are at more risk of gum infections or periodontal diseases at 56 per cent than women at 39 per cent but more so as “Movember” is the nickname of November.

“Movember” refers to “Men’s Health Month” even though the cry for a designated “International Men’s Day” began in the 1960s and so far, 80 countries have calendared Nov. 19 as their “IMD.”

The United Nations Education, Scientific, Cultural Organization is among the global bodies that support the advocacy that promotes anti-discrimination and gender equality.

Meanwhile, last weekend, 500 motor bikers took part in the American Hospital Dubai-organized “Mustache Knights” four-hour motorbike health tour from Last Exit Al Khawaneej to Last Exit Al Qudra complete with men’s health and early cancer detection consultations.

Mohamed & Obaid Al Mulla Group chief executive officer Sherif Beshara said the activity “highlights the commitment of the hospital to align global health movements and mobilize the entire community towards a happier and healthier future.”

On Wednesday, Atout of the Drs Nicolas & Asp Centers said: “Men are considered the physically stronger gender. When it comes to caring for their teeth, they sometimes get ignored.”

“For this year’s Movember, it is about gum care. To begin with, we must understand the challenges our teeth face, the most important of which is plaque. Plaque is the thin layer that sticks to the tooth surface and is the leading cause of gum infections and tooth decay in men,” she added.

Atout made reference to the 2009 to 2019 “Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States” first published on Aug. 30, 2012 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the Centers for Disease Control of the Department of Health and Human Services in the US.

It was “the first time full-mouth periodontal examination to assess for mild, moderate, or severe periodontitis comprehensive survey in the US.”

She said: “The population in our part of the world might have higher levels of periodontal disease compared to the US, especially in men, because of the lack of educational resources and information on oral health or hygiene in addition to the inconsistency of patients’ periodontal visits.”

The top five oral and dental problems Atout has seen in men in the UAE and across the Middle East are:

— Periodontitis (serious gum infection that destroys the soft tissues and the bone that supports the teeth) as a manifestation of diabetes.

— Periodontal disease particularly “pockets (that develop between gum and teeth where plaque, tartar and bacteria thrive) and bone loss caused by the poor positioning of the wisdom teeth.

— Missing teeth because of periodontal disease.

— Receding gums due to loss of gum tissue associated with unconscious teeth grinding.

— Enlarged gum tissues associated with lack of good oral hygiene and systemic diseases such as diabetes.

Her patients “were never told about (gum) diseases; were never alarmed because they were not experiencing any painful gums; never imagined that (gum) diseases are associated with systemic illnesses (such as diabetes).”

Atout said: “They were interested in improving their oral hygiene habits.”

The tips:

— Brush teeth twice a day even if tired. It gets rid of the food that might have been stuck between the teeth during the day to prevent plaque build-up.

— Use dental floss to reach for the stuck food in between teeth unreachable by toothbrush.

— Visit the dentist and seek consultations with a specialist periodontist to avert problems.

— Quit tobacco use. It weakens gums, stains teeth. It is the source of harmful bacteria.

— A healthy body will house a healthy mouth. So, eat healthily with food lots of fibers and vitamins. Drink lots of water.