Boise Dentist Blog
The professional blog of Doctors Dan Bruce, Steve Bruce, Rosa Pothier and Rob Ririe
Are women more prone to cavities?
- A new article written in the AGD Impact magazine cites a study published in Current Anthropology (October 2008) stating that women are more prone to cavities than men. Many of the patients I see in my practice have suspected this, but now they have evidence!
1. Female sex hormones - Estrogen, which is produced by the placenta throughout pregnancy, promotes cavity and dietary changes.
2. Saliva - Women naturally produce less saliva than men. During pregnancy, the chemical composition of saliva changes and reduces the saliva's antimicrobial capacity.
3. Food cravings during pregnancy (this is the one I always blame decay on - probably due to experience!) - Women crave sweet, high-energy foods during the 3rd trimester of pregancy." This means that attention to oral hygiene during pregnancy is especially important.