Dental Hygiene and Mental Wellbeing

Dental hygiene and emotional self-care both require attention on the road to mental wellbeing. A person cannot neglect one and hope to achieve mental wellbeing.

Let’s explore further.

Dental Hygiene Defined

Dental hygiene can be defined as care of one’s teeth and associated structures. A more comprehensive term is oral care which encompasses the entire oral cavity. After all, the side walls of your mouth, your throat (pharynx), your tongue, and your lips all need care.

Taking care of your teeth and the rest of your mouth includes brushing twice daily; flossing between your teeth; rinsing your mouth after the use of medications which can affect your mouth (for example, inhaled steroids or medication formulations which contain sugars); avoiding products which can lead to oral cavity diseases (such as tobacco products and alcohol and psychostimulants); having your teeth cleaned regularly to remove plaque and tartar; and having your mouth assessed by dental professionals who check for medical conditions in your mouth.

The Intersection of Dental Health and Mental Health

Physical Condition of Teeth and Mental Health

Is there a connection between the condition of your teeth and your mental health? There definitely is.

Evidence exists that dental infections can become systemic (throughout the rest of your body) infections. Dental infections, due to access to the bloodstream, can affect many parts of your body, including your heart and the entire cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular diseases and mental health conditions are linked.

Inflammation in your mouth can have widespread effects on your body because of the chain of events caused by inflammation. Cortisol is one of the hormones whose level increases with inflammation. Cortisol is implicated in the stress response. Cortisol can affect your mental health, in a variety of ways.

Poor condition of teeth leads some people to experience low self-esteem because there is stigma in having teeth which are decayed or missing. Let’s call this stigma against persons with visible dental issues a lack of pretty smile privilege. The implicit bias against persons with dental decay and dental defects can affect their chances in the workplace, on the dating scene, and in other social contracts. Just consider the recent campaign by Colgate to address the image issues of people with a gap between their front teeth. Add to that dental decay and consider how dental decay exacerbates the situation.

Colgate Partners with Uzo Aduba in Your Smile is Your Superpower Campaign:  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/colgate-wants-everyone-to-know-your-smile-is-your-superpower-with-new-campaign-302098279.html

Impaired dentition can affect one’s ability to chew food, the first step in the digestive process. Some foods may be too difficult to consume. This may lead to malnutrition which can impact our mental health by preventing our bodies from having the necessary building blocks to repair and construct our body chemicals and cells and tissues.

Mental Health Conditions Can Affect Dental Health

Having a mental health condition can directly affect dental health. Mental health conditions themselves may be associated with poor dentition.

When a person does not care for their teeth and their mouth, they may develop caries (cavities) and other oral conditions.

Neglect of self or engaging in risky behaviours may be associated with mental health symptoms. If a person engages in unprotected oral sex, there is a risk of acquiring infections like herpes or human papilloma virus (HPV).  Use of psychostimulants like methamphetamine is associated with severe tooth decay.

Certain psychotropic (psychiatric) medications are associated with a decrease in saliva production which can affect the health of your gums and your mouth. Psychotropic medications can cause a person to grind their teeth leading to wearing down of the tooth’s structure.

A meta-analysis by Turner et al, published in 2021, identified three key points of concern for oral health in persons with serious mental health issues. First, people with serious mental health issues are less likely than a control group to consult a dentist. Secondly, they are less likely than a control group to brush their teeth. Thirdly, the study found little evidence that persons with a serious mental illness floss or use mouthwash. Of note, the studies included in the meta-analysis were international in nature. The authors do note the varied quality of the studies included in their analysis.

Mental Wellbeing Requires Oral Care

Dental hygiene and mental wellbeing are linked, as noted in the above discussion. Dental hygiene is not enough. You have to take care of your entire mouth to promote your own mental wellbeing.

Oral health and mental health are connected.

Call to Action

You may not be motivated to brush your teeth or floss between your teeth. These tasks may seem too much work, especially if you feel depressed or anxious or disorganized in your mind. Talk to your health care provider, your dentist, and your mental health professional. Let them know the difficulties you experience when trying to care for your teeth and your entire mouth.

Developing a routine may help you to be consistent in brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth. Set your toothbrush beside your morning coffee (tea, water) cup or your morning medications. Maybe you need to have two toothbrushes: one to set beside your morning medications or cup and one to put near your nighttime cup or medications.

Employ safer sex practices when engaging in oral sex. Safer sex practices include using a barrier between your mouth and the genitalia of someone else. https://www.gmhc.org/resources/plastic-wrap-dental-dams/

Seek treatment for substance use. In New York state, call 1-877-8-HOPENY (467369) or text HOPENY (467389). The HOPEline is available 24/7/365.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Address your mental health needs.

Lobby your elected officials for dental care to be covered by all health insurance plans.

Donate dental hygiene supplies to your local shelter for persons who are homeless or organizations servicing victims of domestic violence.

Takeaways: Dental Hygiene and Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing requires maintaining self-care habits, including oral care. Dental hygiene and mental health hang together on our path to mental wellbeing. Make dental hygiene a habit to foster your mental wellbeing.

Disclaimer: The content of this post is not meant to substitute for a consultation with your health care team. Do not stop your medications without speaking with the prescriber of the medications.

Resources:

Oral health self-care behaviours in serious mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Elizabeth Turner, Katherine Berry, Vishal A. Aggarwal, Leah Quinlivan, Timothy Villanueva, Jasper Palmer-Claus. 16 April 2021. Acta Scandinavica Psychiatrica. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acps.13308

Reviewing the Relationship of Mental Health and Dental Hygiene Care. Tanya L. Smith. February 21, 2023. Today’s RDH. https://www.todaysrdh.com/reviewing-the-relationship-of-mental-health-with-dental-hygiene-care/

Study examines oral hygiene self-care behavior among patients with mental health disorders.  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240319/Study-examines-oral-hygiene-self-care-behavior-among-patients-with-mental-health-disorders.aspx

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