How Depression Affects Dental Health

Depression is a mental health problem, and dental health is a hygiene problem, so how exactly do they impact one another? Depression is a complex issue that can affect people in a lot of ways, dental health being just one of the many factors.

The Connection Between Depression And Dental Health

While some people think that depression is just an immense feeling of sadness, it is much more than that. Depression can seep into every area of people’s lives, causing them to have troubles with sleeping, concentrating, or even acting like themselves.

With this being said, it can also affect one’s dental health because it can lead you to neglect daily activities such as brushing or caring for your teeth. While losing interest in your dental health may not seem like the biggest of issues, it can also lead to more serious problems such as mouth or gum diseases, tooth decay, or more.

If you neglect your dental health and oral care for long enough, your teeth and gums will reap the consequences. If it goes untreated for too long, you can lose your teeth or contract a detrimental disease that can lead to pain and discomfort.

On top of that, some anti-depressant medications can have side effects for your oral care including dry mouth, trouble swallowing, and tooth grinding.

What Should You Do To Care For Your Teeth?

If you know that you are suffering from depression and recognize some of the side effects of oral health problems spoken of above, it is about time that you took action. No matter what, you deserve a healthy smile. Below are ways that you can improve your dental health:

• Brush twice a day for at least two minutes
• Floss every day and make sure to get every spot
• Schedule regular dental check ups
• Tell your dentist about your depression

Overall, while depression, a mental health problem, and oral care, a hygiene issue, don’t seem connected, depression can actually lead to declining oral health. Because depression seeps its way into many aspects of daily life, it can also lead to a neglect of oral care and health.

Because of this, your teeth and gums can reap the consequences, leading to gum disease, tooth decay, or even tooth loss so it is important to acknowledge that your depression is affecting your oral care and take action against it. Let your dentist know about your depression, make sure to brush your teeth and floss every day, and take special care of your teeth and gums.

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Written By:

Abigail Wise is an aspiring teacher, writer, and editor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education with an emphasis in Creative Writing as well as working towards her teaching credential. She hopes to receive her Masters of Arts in English as well as go on to be a full-time teacher, writer, and editor.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

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