Why do men get bleeding gums far more often than women?
You’ve probably noticed it too. Maybe you’re a guy in your 40s whose gums bleed like crazy, while your wife barely has an issue. Or maybe you’re a hygienist who’s tired of seeing your male patients lose teeth to periodontitis while your female patients sail through their cleanings.
For years, we blamed it on behavior. “Men don’t floss as much.” “Men skip dentist appointments.” “Men have worse oral hygiene.”
And look, there’s some truth there. But that explanation never sat right with me. Because I’ve seen plenty of guys with meticulous oral hygiene still battling red, swollen, bleeding gums. Meanwhile, their partners could skip a few nights of flossing and bounce right back.
Something deeper was going on. And now, thanks to groundbreaking research from UNC Chapel Hill published just weeks ago in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, we finally know why.
Here’s what researchers discovered when they analyzed over 6,200 human samples across three separate studies:
Men have significantly higher levels of a protein called interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the fluid around their teeth—both when they’re healthy AND when they have gum disease.
IL-1β is produced by something called the inflammasome, which is basically your immune system’s fire alarm. When bacteria accumulate below your gumline, the inflammasome activates and releases IL-1β to fight the infection.
But here’s the problem: in men, this inflammatory response goes into overdrive.
The researchers found that this inflammasome-driven inflammation is what’s actually destroying the bone around men’s teeth. When they blocked the inflammasome in male mice, the bone loss stopped completely. But when they tried the same treatment in female mice? Nothing changed.
The females weren’t using this pathway at all.
Even more interesting: when they removed the testes from male mice, they lost their response to the inflammasome-blocking treatment. The male reproductive system isn’t just along for the ride—it’s actively driving this inflammatory process.
These are fundamental biological differences in how men’s and women’s immune systems respond to the same bacterial challenge.
Now, before you throw your hands up and blame testosterone for everything, let me tell you what else the science shows.
A comprehensive 2017 review in Frontiers in Public Health mapped out just how complex this male vulnerability really is. Yes, periodontitis affects about 57% of men compared to 39% of women in the U.S. But it’s not JUST biology.
Sex biology (your hormones, your genes, your immune wiring) intersects with gender—the social and behavioral factors that differ between men and women. Things like:
- Women utilize preventive dental care more frequently than men
- Economic inequality means women face more barriers to accessing dental care (20% of women didn’t get dental care due to cost vs. 15% of men)
- Men harbor different oral bacteria—higher levels of Prevotella intermedia and other periodontal pathogens
- Women produce more antibodies against gum disease bacteria
- Estrogen seems to regulate inflammation more effectively, while testosterone can amplify it
The picture that emerges is this: your biology loads the gun, but your behaviors and access to care determine whether it fires.
So What Can You Actually DO About This?
Okay, enough with the science lecture. If you’re dealing with bleeding gums—whether you’re a man genetically stacked against you, or a woman wanting to stay ahead of the game—here’s what the research actually supports:
1. Take This Seriously (Especially if You’re a Guy)
Bleeding gums aren’t normal. Period. I don’t care if your dad had it, your uncle had it, or “all the men in your family” have it. It’s a red flag that your immune system is destroying the foundation of your teeth.
The good news? Now that we understand the inflammasome pathway, we know what we’re fighting. And there are ways to dampen that inflammatory fire.
2. Coenzyme Q10: The Evidence-Backed Supplement
Here’s where I get excited, because this is one of the few supplements where the science is actually ROBUST.
Multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses have shown that CoQ10 supplementation as an adjunct to scaling and root planing significantly improves:
- Bleeding Index: One meta-analysis found a standardized mean difference of -1.05 (that’s huge in dental research)
- Gingival Index: Reduced by -0.63 standardized mean difference
- Pocket Depth: Decreased by -0.96 mm on average
- Clinical Attachment Level: Improved by -0.73 mm
Why does this work? CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that lives in your mitochondria—the energy factories of your cells. When you have chronic inflammation from gum disease, your gingival tissue becomes deficient in CoQ10. The research shows that people with inflamed periodontal tissues have measurably lower CoQ10 levels than people with healthy gums.
By supplementing with CoQ10, you’re essentially giving your gum tissue the fuel it needs to fight inflammation and heal itself.
What to do: Take 60-120 mg of CoQ10 daily (I take this one). Studies show it takes about 12 weeks to see significant improvements when combined with professional periodontal treatment.
Don’t skip your scaling and root planing—CoQ10 works as an adjunct, not a replacement.
3. Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0): The Emerging Essential Fatty Acid
Now this is where things get REALLY interesting.
C15:0 is an odd-chain saturated fatty acid that until recently, nobody paid much attention to. But research from the U.S. Navy’s marine mammal program discovered something remarkable: healthier, longer-lived dolphins had higher blood levels of C15:0.
When they supplemented dolphins’ diets with more C15:0, inflammation markers dropped, and metabolic health improved.
C15:0 has broad anti-inflammatory activities that target many of the same inflammatory pathways that are hyperactive in male gum disease:
- Lowers IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, and MCP-1 (the exact inflammatory molecules driving bone loss in male periodontitis)
- Reduces IL-17A and IL-17F (inflammatory cytokines involved in periodontal destruction)
- Has cellular activities matching rapamycin, one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory drugs we have
- Activates AMPK and inhibits mTOR—core components of the human longevity pathway
In one study comparing C15:0 to omega-3 fatty acids across 12 different disease models, C15:0 had 36 clinically relevant activities compared to just 12 for EPA (a leading omega-3). And C15:0’s anti-inflammatory effects were substantially broader than omega-3s, with particular relevance to cardiovascular, immune, and metabolic health.
Even more compelling: C15:0 supplementation in mice reduced inflammatory cytokines, improved glucose control, lowered cholesterol, and reduced inflammation-driven liver disease. In human trials, supplementation increased C15:0 blood levels and improved liver enzymes.
What to do: You can get C15:0 from full-fat dairy products (grass-fed butter, whole milk, aged cheese), but honestly, you’d need to eat a LOT of dairy to get therapeutic amounts. The more practical approach is a C15:0 supplement (around 100 mg daily—this is the one I take). This is an emerging area, but given its safety profile and the robust mechanistic data showing it targets the exact inflammatory pathways driving male-biased periodontitis, it’s worth considering—especially if you’re a guy (or gal) struggling with chronic gum inflammation despite good oral hygiene.
4. The Non-Negotiables
Look, no supplement will save you if you’re not doing the basics:
- Floss. Every. Single. Day. I don’t care if your gums bleed. That’s WHY you need to floss. The bleeding will improve as inflammation decreases.
- Get professional cleanings every 3-6 months (if you have active gum disease, you need to be seen every 3 months until it’s under control)
- Consider an electric toothbrush with pressure sensors (men tend to brush way too hard, which makes bleeding worse)
- Stop smoking (if you smoke, everything I just said is basically pointless—smoking overwhelms any protective effects)
- Manage your systemic inflammation (if you have prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, or chronic stress, your IL-1β levels are probably elevated throughout your body, not just your gums)
For the first time in history, we understand WHY men are more vulnerable to severe gum disease. It’s not just about skipping the dentist or forgetting to floss. Your male biology creates a hyperactive inflammatory response that literally destroys the bone around your teeth.
But understanding the mechanism gives us power. We now know we need to target the inflammasome and reduce inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β, TNFα, and IL-6.
The combination of professional periodontal treatment, CoQ10 supplementation (60-120 mg daily for at least 12 weeks), and potentially C15:0 supplementation (100 mg daily) targets this pathway from multiple angles.
Your gums shouldn’t bleed when you floss. If they do, you’re not “just like your dad.” You’re dealing with an immune system that’s attacking your own tissues.
But now you know why. And more importantly, you know what to do about it.
Note: Always work with your dentist or periodontist when addressing gum disease. The recommendations above are based on published research and are meant as adjuncts to professional periodontal treatment, not replacements. Individual results may vary, and some people may need more aggressive interventions like laser therapy, localized antibiotics, or surgical treatment.
Further Reading & References:
- Marchesan et al. (2025). “Inflammasome targeting for periodontitis prevention is sex dependent.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PNAS 2507092122.
- Ioannidou, E. (2017). “The Sex and Gender Intersection in Chronic Periodontitis.” Frontiers in Public Health, PMC5543279.
- Multiple meta-analyses on CoQ10 and periodontitis (Rasoolzadeh et al. 2022; Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice; Nutrients 2023; Scientific Reports)
- Venn-Watson et al. (2023). “Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0), an Essential Fatty Acid, Shares Clinically Relevant Cell-Based Activities with Leading Longevity-Enhancing Compounds.” Nutrients, PMC10649853.
- Venn-Watson & Butterworth (2022). “Broader and safer clinically-relevant activities of pentadecanoic acid compared to omega-3.” PLOS ONE, PMC9135213.