How Oral Health Impacts Mental Health (And Vice-versa!)

The topic of oral health is usually associated with physical well-being. While the impact of oral health on physical well-being cannot be understated, it is also important to also highlight the link between oral health and mental health. The state of one’s oral health can affect their mental health positively or otherwise. In the same vein, the mental health of an individual can impact their oral health. In this article, we will discuss the link between oral health and mental health and how they affect one another. 

How Oral Health Affects Mental Health

The state of your gum and teeth can be the main contributor to the state of your mental health. Patients suffering from poor oral health can end up dealing with some self-esteem issues that can lead to depression. Oral health problems like chronic bad breath, decaying, yellowing or lost teeth often cause shame and loss of confidence.

These conditions might also result in anxiety, causing the patient to speak less or reduce their social interactions for fear of getting mocked. This anxiety typically affects the performance of patients in their daily life, be it at school or work. Stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation usually lead to depression. Patients might decide to rely on substances to feel good about themselves, which might end up causing more damage to both their oral and mental health. 

Research has also shown that some oral diseases might be a contributing factor to certain mental illnesses. Periodontitis and gingivitis when inflamed, can release harmful bacteria that will affect the brain cells and lead to loss of memory loss and other conditions. It is therefore important to take your oral health very seriously, in order to stay healthy, physically and mentally. 

How Mental Health Affects Oral Health

A lot of people are not aware, but the state of your mental health can reflect on your teeth and gums. The way you take care of your body when you are suffering from a mental illness is typically short of what is required. Different mental conditions affect oral health in distinct ways. We have highlighted some of them below. 

• Obsessive-Compulsion Disorder and Bipolar Disorder: People suffering from OCD might tend to be too concerned about keeping their mouths clean. This might result in excessive brushing, flossing, and mouth washing. The end result of this is usually damaged gums, which leaves them prone to gum infections. For patients suffering from bipolar disorder, their medication might leave them with a dry mouth. 
• Dementia, Schizophrenia, and Depression: For people dealing with these conditions, it is usually a case of failing to take care of their teeth. While dementia patients typically forget to, people dealing with depression simply neglect it. 
• Dental Phobia: Dental phobia is a condition that describes an irrational fear of visiting the dentist, due to embarrassment or other reasons. People dealing with a dental phobia do not visit the dentist as regularly as they should, which might result in poor oral hygiene.

Conclusion

If you are dealing with any of the issues addressed above, it is best to visit a dentist in Arana Hills for adequate treatment.