Every November, you may notice an influx of gradually growing moustaches adorning the upper lip of young men and marking the beginning of Movember. In 2025, there were over 250,000 official sign-ups to Movember – a month of fundraising that campaigns to improve awareness of men’s health and encourage the conversations that previously have been stigmatised.[i]
These silent concerns extend to the oral cavity, where men are about one-third less likely than women to seek preventive care services and visit the dentist less frequently.[ii] This is concerning when accounting for the associations that oral diseases may have with wider conditions. Movember is therefore an excellent opportunity to have open discussions with male patients and investigate the available research into systemic health problems.
Prostate cancer
As the most frequently occurring cancer among males and the second foremost cause of cancer-related death in the Western world, prostate cancer is a worry, and often a focus for Movember .[iii] As well as its mortality rate, the impact a diagnosis can have on quality of life, both physically and mentally, is enormous. The gradual increase in the number of ageing men is a further worry due to the increased prevalence of prostate cancer – it mostly affects men over 50 years old.[iv] But there is hope: Jeremy Clarkson made headlines earlier this year following his diagnosis and prompted thousands of men to complete online risk checkers, massively boosting awareness.[v]
Along with age, a familial history of prostate cancer and having a Black African or African Caribbean ethnic background are also notable risk factors.[vi] The symptoms do not materialise until the cancer spreads from the outer part of the prostate and eventually presses on the urethra. Initial signs can be a weak or staggered urine flow. Further symptoms include erectile dysfunction, blood in the urine, lower back pain, and losing weight without trying to.[vii] For dental practitioners, an area to note is the association between periodontitis and prostate cancer. Whilst a direct link has yet to be discovered, ongoing research is worth taking note of.[viii]
Periodontitis problems
Prostate cancer is associated with chronic inflammation, and chronic inflammation is associated with periodontitis. P. gingivalis, the harmful bacterium linked to severe gingival disease, has the ability to spread through the bloodstream, with the potential to affect the prostate tissues and create a chronic inflammatory microenvironment. If this happens, it could promote the transformation of prostate disease to cancer. In one study, prostate tissue samples were selected from 30 patients with reported inflammation, benign hyperplasia, and cancer – DNA from periodontal pathogens was detected in every tissue.[ix]
Of further note is that, running parallel, individuals with P. gingivalis in their oral cavity have a 59 per cent increased risk of pancreatic cancer, emphasising the ability for oral microbes to migrate and contribute to organ inflammation.[x] Whilst a different part of the body, the relationship between the oral cavity and cancer is concerning.
Surface pressure
Compounding the issues of managing men’s health is the societal pressure to not complain – something that Movember hopes to change each year. In a survey, 48 per cent of men agreed that they felt obligated to ‘tough it out’ when faced with a health concern.[xi] One-third also said that talking about their health and any anxieties might make others see them as weak, reducing confidence and creating a feeling of isolation. This mindset partly explains why male patients are less proactive in their oral care and attend fewer dental appointments than female patients.[xii] Moreover, patients diagnosed with cancer, prostate or otherwise, are at a greater risk of oral disease during treatment, increasing the need for superior oral care habits. However, as cancer is more prevalent in older demographics, this is also the age group that may have grown up with the more traditional, stoic attitude to health, making it a challenge to instil a proactive approach to self-care.
Proactive equals preventive
However, this mindset can be changed through a stronger educational awareness of how the oral cavity is connected to wider systemic problems. Dental practitioners should also encourage male patients to visit the dentist more and optimise their daily oral care routine by integrating interdental cleaning to reduce the risk of oral diseases.
A brilliant solution that simplifies interdental cleaning is the CPS brush from Curaprox. Offered in five sizes, each brush has a patented surgical wire that slides into narrow interdental spaces and uses an umbrella effect to remove harmful particles in a single motion. Gentle on the gingivae yet tough on plaque, each brush prevents biofilm build-up and lowers the risk of periodontitis for a healthier smile.
Men tend to have lower health awareness, less consistent oral hygiene and are more likely to avoid healthcare.[xiii] Events like Movember are a brilliant opportunity to remind male patients of why proactive approaches to health are so important, especially for the oral cavity. By fostering positive conversations and raising awareness of the link between oral diseases and systemic conditions, dental practitioners can improve health outcomes for male patients.
To arrange a Practice Educational Meeting with your Curaden Development Manager please email us on sales@curaden.co.uk
For more information, please visit www.curaprox.co.uk and www.curaden.co.uk
Author: Andrew Turner, Head of Marketing UK & Ireland at Curaden UK
[i] Movember (2016). Movember. [online] Movember. Available at: https://uk.movember.com/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2026].
[ii] Lipsky, M.S., Su, S., Crespo, C.J. and Hung, M. (2021). Men and Oral Health: A Review of Sex and Gender Differences. American Journal of Men’s Health, [online] 15(3), p.155798832110163. doi:10.1177/15579883211016361.
[iii] Paes, A., Alluri, C., Bissada, N.F. and Gupta, S. (2019). Association between oral pathogens and prostate cancer: building the relationship. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Urology, [online] 7(1), p.1. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6420702/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2026].
[iv] NHS (2017). Prostate cancer – Causes. [online] nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/causes/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2026].
[v] Prostate Cancer UK. (2025). A national response to Jeremy Clarkson’s diagnosis. [online] Available at: https://prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/news-and-views/2026/09/a-national-response-to-jeremy-clarksons-diagnosis [Accessed 14 Aug. 2026].
[vi] NHS (2017). Prostate cancer – Causes. [online] nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/causes/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2026].
[vii] NHS (2018). Prostate cancer – Symptoms. [online] nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2026].
[viii] European Federation of Periodontology (2025). Men’s wellbeing can be affected by their oral health. [online] Efp.org. Available at: https://www.efp.org/press-media/mens-wellbeing-can-be-affected-by-their-oral-health/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2026].
[ix] Li, S., Cao, H., Zhang, Y., Yang, T., Li, M., Lv, C. and Lian, X. (2025). Association between periodontal disease and prostate disease: a mini review. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 15. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2025.1669490.
[x] Paes, A., Alluri, C., Bissada, N.F. and Gupta, S. (2019). Association between oral pathogens and prostate cancer: building the relationship. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Urology, [online] 7(1), p.1. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6420702/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2026].
[xi] Dean, G. (2025). Men’s health: They put off GP visits – then came a tipping point. BBC News. [online] 21 Apr. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg5q14qm0l2o [Accessed 13 Aug. 2026].
[xii] Sfeatcu, R., Balgiu, B.A., Mihai, C., Petre, A., Pantea, M. and Tribus, L. (2022). Gender Differences in Oral Health: Self-Reported Attitudes, Values, Behaviours and Literacy among Romanian Adults. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 12(10), p.1603. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12101603.
[xiii] European Federation of Periodontology (2025). Men’s wellbeing can be affected by their oral health. [online] Efp.org. Available at: https://www.efp.org/press-media/mens-wellbeing-can-be-affected-by-their-oral-health/ [Accessed 13 Aug. 2026].
