Depression can affect oral health as a result of neglecting oral hygiene procedures, cariogenic nutrition, avoidance of necessary dental care which leads to an increased risk of dental caries and periodontal disease.
For example, people who struggle with depression may neglect their oral hygiene. This can lead to an increase in plaque and bacteria in the mouth, which can cause gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. Depression can also lead to dry mouth and a decrease in saliva production.
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, almost two-thirds of people with depression reported having a toothache in the last year — significantly higher than the population on average. What's more, half of all people with depression rated their teeth condition as fair or poor.
Overall, the researchers concluded that the rates of dental decay and tooth loss were higher for patients with common mental disorders as compared to the general population [2].
Stress, anxiety, and depression can all affect oral health and lead to the onset of gum disease and tooth decay. It's important that people suffering from mental health issues remember to take proper care of their teeth each day, to keep their mouth in good condition.
Signs and symptoms of dental anxiety
sweating. racing heartbeat (tachycardia) or palpitations. low blood pressure and possible fainting (syncope) visible distress, crying or signs of panic.
Because of the way chronic stress impairs your immune system, it can lead to chronically inflamed gums, which leads to gum disease. The damage to your gums that chronic stress causes can loosen up the foundations holding your teeth in place, damage the supporting bone, and result in tooth loss.
You may suffer with bruxism
Stress can cause constant worrying and over-thinking, which can affect your body when asleep and cause you to grind your teeth.
Some of the most popular antidepressants can also have significant impacts on your dental and oral health, local dentists reveal. Dry mouth, for example, is one of the most common side effects of antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills.
Yes, a toothache caused by stress is possible. Stress and nerves can cause tension effects on the jaw, with stress often causing a person to grind their teeth. When you are clenching the jaw due to stress you can easily cause aches and pains, which is typically a result of wearing down the enamel.
What is smile dysmorphia? People suffering from SD have a healthy periodontium but feel deeply insecure about specific aspects of their teeth. They may have unrealistic outcome expectations and seek out invasive procedures to correct a perceived flaw.
Your dentist may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs, such as diazepam (Valium), that you can take one hour before a scheduled dental visit. Your dentist may also recommend conscious sedation, such as nitrous oxide (or “laughing gas”), which can help calm nerves.
Oral anxiety is the stress effects on oral health. Stress or anxiety can impact your oral health; when you are stressed, your immune system is compromised, and while the cause of canker sores is not proven, there is some correlation or higher likelihood between lowered immune and those nasty painful canker sores.
Your dentist can tell. During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), mouth sores and gum disease.
Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth, behind your teeth. Then use your tongue to push your top teeth forward and, while doing that, slowly open your mouth, stretching those tight jaw muscles. Stop doing this when you feel pain. You can repeat this ten times.
Stress can cause you to clench your jaw and grind your teeth. This can lead to tooth pain or cause TMJ. If your dentist finds that you have TMJ Syndrome you might need a dental splint to reposition the lower jaw. Otherwise, try some warm compresses, eating soft foods and reducing stress.
You know that too much stress can lead to a decline in your overall health, but severe stress can also cause problems in your teeth, jaw, mouth, and gums.
What is dentophobia? People with dentophobia, also called odontophobia, have a fear of dentists. Someone with dentophobia may have extreme anxiety at the thought of going to the dentist or while in the dentist's office.
Too much stress can cause problems with your mouth, teeth, and gums. You can take some steps to keep yourself healthy, though. While you work on lowering your stress levels, try these tips to improve trouble spots like mouth sores and teeth grinding.
Poor hygiene isn't one of the formal symptoms of depression, but it may be related to some of the other symptoms you're experiencing. The formal symptoms of depression include: low mood, including sadness, guilt, hopelessness, irritability, and anger.