Declining Oral Health May Predict Mental Health Issues

A study published in the JDR Clinical & Translational Research suggests that declining oral health may predict mental health issues, including depression. Individuals with mental illness have poorer oral health compared to those without mental health conditions. However, the literature is still lacking regarding the specifics of this relationship.

This study aims to examine the relationship between depression and oral health problems such as oral conditions, access to dental care, and oral hygiene measures. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a secondary data analysis of 9,693 participants from the 2017 to March 2020 pre-pandemic National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The independent variable was the severity of depressive symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9). Proportional odds and binary logistic regression were used to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) between depression and 8 oral health outcomes and oral hygiene–related behaviors.

Results

After adjusting for sociodemographics, health conditions, and behaviors, individuals with depression were significantly more likely to experience:

• Dental aches in the past year (AOR = 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–2.56)
• Difficulty getting dental care when needed (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.45–2.58)
• Difficulty at their jobs due to a problem in their mouth (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.07–2.49)

compared to individuals without depression. Individuals with depressive symptoms often neglect oral hygiene and self-care practices and are less likely to seek medical care for oral health problems, making them at increased risk of poor oral health outcomes. These findings can be applied by dentists, psychologists, and therapists to increase awareness of links between depression and oral health and to encourage patients with depression to seek oral hygiene preventative care.

Reference

Bafageeh F, Loux T. Depression Symptoms Linked to Multiple Oral Health Outcomes in US Adults. JDR Clinical & Translational Research. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/23800844241246225