Who Takes Better Care Of Their —Men Or Women? (NAPSA)—Who takes better care of their teeth and gums— Flossing Facts NeverFloss men or women? Recent surveys, including one by the Butler GUM brandof oral care products reveal a gender gap Too Lazy Ie in their oral hygiene habits. While the Butler GUM survey found both men and womenalike fell short of the recommended practices, it clearly showed men are more in need of a “brush up” on good oral care. For example, 20 percent of men admitted they never floss, compared to just 10 percent of women. These results correspond with a recent poll by the American Academy of Periodontology in which 97 percent of periodontists reported their female patients practice better oral hygiene habits than male patients. Twenty-two percent of men brush their teeth just once a day or less, increasing their risk for gum disease “As a hygienist I’ve seen that menareterribly lax when it comes to proper oral care,” said Maria Perno, RDH, MS,and formerpresident of the ADHA.“Asa result, despite that women may be more prone to developing gum disease during certain life cycles, such as pregnancy or menopause, menstill have a higherrate of gum disease.” In the Butler GUM survey, more women (66 percent) than men (54 percent) knew the recom- mended way to brush yourteeth, that is, using a circular motion along the gumline with bristles at a 45-degree angle. The survey also showed a one minute discrepancy between the average amounts of time respondents say they should spend brushing their teeth versus the time they actually spend brush- 10 Men Women 10% Men Women Sponsored by the Butler GUM brandoforal care products. A total of 401 online surveys were conducted from May 17-20, 2000 (201 females, 200 males, age 18 years or older.) @ An online poll found men could use a “brush-up” on oral care. ing. Experts recommend brushing for two to three minutes. While more than three quarters of the survey respondentscorrectly associated tooth loss with advanced gum disease, fewer than one in five knew that advanced gum disease may be linked to conditions such as heart disease, res- piratory ailments, diabetes, osteo- porosis and preterm low birth weight babies. “Taking care of your teeth and gums is one of the easiest measures you can take to protect your- self from illness, yet it is often one of the most overlooked and underestimated forms of disease pre- vention,” said Perno. A free copy of “The Women’s Guide to Oral Health” from Butler GUMand the National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC), can be found by calling toll-free 1-877-98-NWHRC (1-877-986- 9472). Additional information and related studies can be found at www.LivingYounger.com.
