If gum disease is left untreated, it can have dire consequences for your smile. But what you may not realize is that it can also affect other aspects of your overall well-being. In fact, recent studies indicate that gum disease can sometimes be linked to certain mental health issues. Below is a closer look at this surprising relationship and why it’s so important to be mindful of the health of your gums.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease occurs when harmful oral bacteria attack the soft tissues protecting the roots of the teeth, leading to an infection. In its earliest stage (known as gingivitis), the condition tends to have relatively mild symptoms such as inflammation and gums that bleed easily. However, untreated gum disease will eventually reach its advanced stage (known as periodontitis), leading to more serious symptoms such as gum recession. Eventually, it can even cause you to lose your teeth.
The Connection Between Gum Disease and Mental Health
In 2021, the University of Birmingham conducted a study of 60,995 people with gingivitis and 3,384 people with periodontitis. The records of these patients were compared to those of individuals with no history of gum disease. As a result of the study, it was found that people with some form of gum disease were 37% more likely to develop mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.
What could be the reason for this association? It may be related to some of the symptoms of untreated gum disease. The condition often causes bad breath that won’t go away, and it can result in tooth loss that has a negative impact on the overall appearance of the smile. These factors can potentially hurt your self-esteem, thereby contributing to depression and other mental health issues.
There’s also the possibility that your mental health could affect your gum health. When you’re depressed, you may not be as diligent about brushing and flossing as you normally would be. Needless to say, failing to practice good oral hygiene can easily lead to gum disease.
What Can You Do to Prevent Gum Disease?
While gum disease is a very common oral health issue, it can also be highly preventable if you follow the right steps. To keep your chances of developing gum disease as low as possible, you should:
- Brush your teeth two times a day, including the area where the teeth meet the gums.
- Floss at least once a day to remove plaque that might be hiding between your teeth.
- Minimize your consumption of foods that are high in sugar or starch.
- Visit your dentist twice a year so that they can thoroughly clean your smile and check for signs of gum disease that you may have overlooked.
In short, gum disease and certain mental health issues could potentially be more related than you might think. As such, taking care of your gums can also be an important step for protecting your mental well-being.
About the Practice
At Omega Dental of Bedford, our dentists are dedicated to providing high-quality dentistry in a comfortable, relaxing environment. We want you to be able to enjoy a healthy smile that you can be confident in, which is why we take gum disease treatment seriously. We offer scaling and root planing as well as antibiotic therapy for swollen, bleeding gums. If you suspect that you have gum disease, visit our website or call (817) 518-6915 to schedule an appointment with our team.