Dental Health & Depression Connection
There is a powerful relationship between depression, oral health outcomes, and oral health-related quality of life. We know that adults with depression have 25% more tooth decay than the general population, and that over half of adults with moderate depression have had gum disease. We also know that more than half (57%) of adolescents in the U.S. have tooth decay. Although the same level of dental-to-mental health adult-based research is unavailable on adolescents, we can make a few important connections based on existing information.
Poor Dental Health Hurts Self-Esteem
Many oral diseases and harmful health behaviors managed by adults begin in adolescence, with tooth decay the most common chronic disease among them. It affects permanent teeth from early childhood into adolescence and beyond, including the ability to eat and speak, which are critical to physical and psychosocial health. Teeth that are damaged, discolored, or missing can negatively impact a teen's self-esteem and social growth, making them reluctant to smile or subjecting them to bullying.
Aside from disease, harmful behaviors with implications for adverse oral health outcomes, like dietary habits, smoking, vaping, and substance use, also become more common in adolescent years. When any of these behaviors hurt dental health, mental health may be more likely to suffer as well.
Smile Stigma Stings
Body image can be all-consuming for many teenagers as they grow and their physical shape changes with puberty. They become more aware of every part of their body, from head to toe. Their smiles and teeth stand out as more noticeable features. Whether self-inflicted or not, there is a stigma associated with missing, crooked, and rotten teeth, possibly because a smile is one of the first things we notice about another person.
“Although adolescent studies are hard to find on this topic, in my experience, the well-being of my teen patients is deeply affected by dental impairments. I watched one of my patients navigate some of her toughest teenage years with a missing front tooth. After repeated insurance denials and dental work too costly for her family to afford out-of-pocket, she stopped smiling at 13, and it was heartbreaking. Fortunately, our team persisted, and we were able to complete all of her dental treatment before she began high school. For the first time in years, she’s smiling again,” says Benevis dentist Dr. Latoya Colenberg Eakins.
Oral Health's Role in Mental Well-Being
If they are not treated, oral health issues can cause pain and make daily tasks more challenging, affecting physical, mental, and social well-being.
The importance of dental care in teen years including orthodontics should not be overlooked, as this period forms the foundation for oral health in adulthood. With many health behaviors taking shape in adolescence, it is a critical time to develop healthy oral care habits for the benefit of dental health as well as mental health.
To learn more about Oral Health in Adolescence or the Connections Between Dental Health & Mental Health, click on the Benevis' dental report links below.
