Gender is a hot topic in the 21C. Oral health not so much. However, these two topics when brought together by circumstance have something important to say to us all about our humanity. The influence of gender on oral health shines a light on some of the cracks in our social fabric, which should concern us.
“The role of sex as a biological variable in the biomedical research has drastically changed over time since regulatory frameworks were established to protect human subjects against the atrocities of the World War II–related medical experiments. At first, research was encouraged to minimize data variance by enrolling participants with similar characteristics (age, gender, weight). As such, women were excluded from clinical trials due to their hormonal differences. Nevertheless, the lack of consideration of sex differences precludes adequate interpretations, and data obtained from one sex cannot be generalized to the other.”
– 1.Sangalli L, Souza LC, Letra A, Shaddox L, Ioannidou E. Sex as a Biological Variable in Oral Diseases: Evidence and Future Prospects. Journal of Dental Research. 2023;102(13):1395-1416. doi:10.1177/00220345231197143
The afore-mentioned sentence that women were excluded from clinical trials due to their hormonal differences should set off alarm bells in the awareness of readers. This is a keen example of the bias of science over the years, as men dominate the science departments at our universities and institutions globally. The cultural dominance of the male seeds their pre-emptive concerns over all others in science and most other areas of human life.
The Female Gender Marginalised in Oral Health Studies
Therefore, in the studies of oral health women were not included for many years and in the results of this research – the data and conclusions were transposed upon women. Assumptions were made and this is sloppy, bad science. This arrogant male science made women second class citizens, which of course men have been doing for millennia.
Women’s Health Institutionally Neglected For Centuries
Of course, transposing assumptions from male derived data to females does not work, as the physiologies have distinct differences. The truth of the matter is that the health sciences had enormous black holes in their data bases when it came to women. This is neglect and arrogant indifference writ large by a male dominated society serving its own constituents in disregard of its partner species.
“Subsequently, in 1986, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) instituted the first policy that encouraged women to be included in clinical trials. The risen attention given by research funding agencies on sex/gender led biomedical research to critically investigate the differences between sex/gender in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of several diseases.”
Worth Still Dividing Women From Men
The influence of gender on oral health has been profound in all the wrong ways. When I was a kid, the only women you saw at the dentist were in the hygienist nurse and receptionist roles. Women mattered only in the home and in servile roles around the edges of the main game.
Transgender People & Oral Health
Things are getting better for women, slowly, which is not something we can say for gender diverse people.
“Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people are a marginalised set of the population that continues to experience health care inequalities. Poor oral health and significant oral mucosal disorders were reported in transgender adults that have shown a higher rate of behavioral risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption.”
Treating Transgender Over Time
Studies into the oral health of members of the transgender community have revealed poor standards of health. The inference stated by researchers is that this group of human beings have suffered social stigma, violence, and socioeconomic problems stemming from their appearance.
“However, oral examination in the present study reported a significantly higher prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (p = 0.026), such as oral ulcers, leukoplakia, nicotine stomatitis, and malignant tumors among the TGNCs compared to the control group.”
Conclusions & Gender In Oral Health
The moral of the story is that shunning and demonisation by the wider community has serious consequences for the health of those in the cross hairs of the righteous among us. Our mouths are probably one of the most intimate receptacles and poor oral health is not surprising when life leaves such a bad taste in your mouth.
