Does Your Mental Health Affect Your Oral Health?Apr 28 2020

The two may not seem like they have any similarities or connections, but there is more brewing under the surface than you might think.\ For those that have depression, anxiety, or any other mental health hardship, stress if often present in everyday life. When stress is abundant, the hormone cortisol levels are higher than what is considered average or normal. While cortisol is good in the normal regulation, with abundant levels, it can do more harm than good. It’s been proven to weaken the immune system, leaving people more vulnerable to disease and conditions in the mouth, like gingivitis and periodontitis.\ Another connection is that those that have higher stress, depression, and/or anxiety may have a harder time focusing on things that don’t feel important in the moment, like oral health.\ People with depression may only brush once in a while and/or skip the semi-annual cleaning and other dentist appointments, leading to even more oral problems. In addition, there are some medications out there that can cause complications like dry mouth, leaving food harder to get out and increasing cavity risk. Some with severe anxiety are more subject to this, canker sores, or even teeth grinding.\ Even if these normal oral habits are not in your everyday routine right now, we can get you back to good oral health. The first step is to brush twice a day, and floss daily. Once that basic routine is mastered again, work on getting to the dentist if you haven’t been there in a while. We are there to help. If you need tips or guidance for your specific needs, don’t hesitate to call and we will do all we can to get you to top-health in the oral department! Don’t lose hope, it’s never too late to help your teeth!