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Your mental health affects the health of your whole body, including your oral health

People who have mental health problems are more likely to have oral health conditions like teeth and gum problems. Good oral health also affects your overall health and can help improve your mental health.

Impact of Oral Health on Mental Health

Your oral and mental health are more closely connected than you might realize. Mental health disorders can lead to some coping habits, like smoking, that have a negative impact on oral health. Some people with mental health problems may also avoid or stop going to the dentist.

People with mental illnesses like anxiety and depression may engage in behaviors or have other problems caused by their illness that affect oral health, such as:

Loss of appetite, which can lead to causes poor nutrition

Eating or drinking too many sugary foods or beverages

Dental anxiety — fear of visiting the dentist

Low energy

Difficulty performing daily tasks like brushing their teeth

Pain

Alcohol use problems or drug use

Smoking

Dry mouth

Poor nutrition. If you have anxiety, depression, or another mental illness, you might not feel like eating. You might also eat or drink too many sugary treats or beverages that make you feel better for a while but can cause tooth decay and cavities.

People with poor nutrition or eating disorders may have low levels of calcium. Loss of calcium can weaken the surface enamel of your teeth. Some eating disorders such as bulimia, in which the person vomits after eating, can damage the throat, teeth, and mouth. Bulimia can also lower the amount of saliva in the mouth, which can cause dry mouth and dental problems.

Burning mouth syndrome — a chronic, burning sensation on the tongue, the roof of the mouth, and the inside of the cheeks — can be a sign of poor nutrition, but it may also be caused by depression. Some people with depression may have good oral health and good nutrition but may have burning mouth syndrome.

Anxiety. Many people, including those without a mental health problem, have dental anxiety. If you have an anxiety disorder, you may avoid seeing a dentist regularly, which can lead to dental problems.

Low energy. Depression or other mental illnesses can make you feel tired and unmotivated. You may find it hard to perform basic tasks like brushing and flossing your teeth. You may also feel too tired to prepare meals, which may lead to poor nutrition.

Pain. Depression and anxiety can make you more sensitive to pain. This can make you fearful or anxious about going to the dentist.

Alcohol, smoking, and other drugs. You are more likely to drink alcohol if you have depression and anxiety. Over time, drinking too much alcohol can lead to gum disease and possibly cause oral cancer.

Dry mouth. Some medications used to treat mental illnesses, such as antidepressant drugs, may cause side effects like dry mouth. A dry mouth may increase your risk for gum disease.

Oral Health Preventive Care

Poor oral health can make your mental health worse. You might feel embarrassed about your teeth, or you may find it hard to eat or drink when you’re with other people. This can cause you to avoid being with people, which can affect your well-being.

Here are some steps you can take to keep your teeth and gums healthy:

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

Clean between your teeth with dental floss or an interdental brush twice a day

Stop smoking

Reduce alcohol use or stop drinking alcohol

Cut back on sugary foods and drinks

See your dentist regularly

Eat a healthy, balanced diet

 

(07/18/2021)
by Web MD

More Information: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/what-to-know-about-oral-health-and-mental-health

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