Way back from ancient times up to this modern times, women is said to have a greater tendency of experiencing poor dental health than men. According to anthropologist, the primary reason why women has poor dental health is hormonal and the increase of food intake during pregnancy. American Academy of Periodontology said women has still a greater risk of having dental problems compare to men due to hormonal basis.
Although many anthropologists disagree with the speculations that it is a culture driven factors, this are also several things to consider. Women in the farm used to cooked and do the household chores thus these activities can trigger the risk of having tooth cavities. However these are just speculations and were not proven yet. Biological factor is another thing that can relate to the issue. Most women in agricultural sector are fond of having more and more babies, that is why they tend to suffer from dental problems.
Nowadays, not only women has poor dental health but also men. The increase number of men suffering from gum disease is due to men are usually ignoring dental care. This information was taken from a reliable source, the Delta Dental. However the American Academy of Periodontology said women has still a greater risk of having dental problems compare to men due to hormonal basis.
Another point of view about this issue from another anthropologist from the University of Oregon, John Lukacs said that what they study in school were all just skeletons that do not secrets saliva and no hormonal effects present. During his first study, he reviewed the prehistoric humans (skeleton) and the living human beings of today and the result still pointing to women has more risk of suffering dental problems than men. Regardless of its cultures and origin, this finding is true to all people around the world.
Men however, are not excluded in this study. Both male and female has suffered drastically from dental cavities in agricultural societies. It was found out further in their study that the change of era from hunter-gathering to agriculture has made a sudden change in the aspects of health and nutrition. Lukacs said further that because of the shift in agriculture people tend to rely on the agricultural crops rather than diversifying around. This is probably the reason why women got dental problems due to lesser nutrition. Moreover, a high estrogen levels in blood will most likely create side effects in dental health.
Another studies was conducted that states that a women produces lesser saliva when she is pregnant but regardless of the amount of saliva a pregnant women can produce it still cannot control the bacteria that produces acid.
The kinds of foods we eat are likewise a great factor that can affect our dental health. In women particularly pregnant, sweet and high energy foods are the kinds of foods that she usually long for. Eating more than usual during pregnancy can produce more acids that ruin the teeth. During these period women is at risk to dental cavities.
Nevertheless, the findings that the earlier anthropologists reveal is correct somehow but the only thing that they fail to focus is the biological aspects which is one of the greatest factor that affects the degree of dental problem in both sexes.
Lukacs suggested to other anthropologists to dig deeper and take broader study of the possible and more reliable truth.
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