Sex-Specific Oral Health: A Narrative Review of Hormonal Influences and Disease Patterns

TL;DR

This review explores how hormones and sex differences affect oral health, highlighting the need for personalized care for men and women.

Contribution

The paper identifies sex-specific oral health patterns and hormonal influences, advocating for tailored dental interventions.

Findings

Men have higher periodontitis prevalence and lower preventive care use compared to women.

Estrogen deficiency in women increases caries risk and affects mucosal health.

Women maintain better oral hygiene and treatment adherence than men.

Abstract

This narrative review aims to analyze sex-specific differences in oral health, examine hormonal influences in women during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, and compare oral health behaviors between men and women. Articles were selected based on: (1) sex-specific aspects of oral diseases, (2) hormonal influences on oral health, (3) comparative analyses between sexes, and (4) sex-disaggregated data on oral disease prevalence. Women experience hormonal vulnerabilities with estrogen deficiency causing xerostomia, mucosal atrophy, and increased caries susceptibility, showing parallels between oral and vaginal mucosa. Men demonstrate higher periodontitis prevalence (57% vs. 38%), utilize preventive services one-third less frequently, and show higher smoking rates (67% vs. 42%) and traumatic dental injuries (2:1 ratio). Women maintain better oral hygiene and treatment adherence. Sex-specific factors affecting both sexes remain unconsidered in dental practice. Women need targeted interventions during hormonal transitions, while men require improved preventive care engagement. Future research integrating sex-specific considerations is required to enable personalized oral health approaches for both sexes.