Watching Out for Mental Health Issues That May Affect Your Oral Wellbeing

People overlook the relationship between mental wellbeing and dental health. For example, if you are going through depression, it is easy to forget good grooming habits, including honoring your dental checkups or adopting healthy dental care habits. Depression makes you feel worthless, so vital habits like brushing and flossing your teeth can be a gruesome affair. Whether you are new to West End Dental or do not remember the last time you went to a dental clinic, knowing the connection between mental and dental health can help restore your quality of life.

Mental health conditions that can impact your dental care habits

Here are top mental illnesses that can affect your oral lifestyle:

• Anxiety

Most people develop dental anxiety because of fears best known to them. The thought of undergoing a tooth extraction procedure is enough to make you avoid going for treatment. So, you overindulge in over-the-counter pain relievers, hoping your toothache will miraculously disappear. However, pain medications only offer short-term relief. They do not get to the root cause of your dental problems. Seeing a dentist is the only way to put such issues behind you once and for all.

• Depression

Depression is a mental condition that makes you feel sluggish and worthless. Symptoms include withdrawing from social interactions, having weird thoughts that could amount to suicide, or obsessing over being alone all the time. It is easy to overlook vital habits like brushing and flossing your teeth when you have such symptoms. If you have been diagnosed with depression, it would be best to see a mental health specialist for treatment so that you can go back to your daily routine.

• Eating disorders

People battle mental health conditions differently. Some may binge-eat sugary or deep-fried foods, which can cause obesity. Others may avoid eating altogether, leading to malnutrition problems like anorexia nervosa. Most of the time, your body does not make use of the unhealthy foods you are eating. If you notice that you may be eating too much or too little lately, it is time to see a psychologist and nutritionist for further advice and treatment.

• Alcohol and drug abuse

If you are depressed or have anxiety, you are likely to take alcohol or drugs to drown your sorrows away. Over time, you may get addicted, and this may aggravate your dental health. Taking too much alcohol eventually leads to gum disease and may precipitate oral cancer. If you are battling alcohol or substance addiction, see a mental health specialist immediately to devise ways to help you get away from the dangerous habit.

Secure your mental and dental health

When the going gets tough, it is only logical to seek a specialist’s assistance to make your life easier. Having a mental disease can affect your oral health, compromising your quality of life. When seeing a dentist, one of the key concerns they may want to know is if you have a mental illness affecting your dental hygiene and practices. That way, they can refer you to a mental health expert. Schedule a consultation with your dentist today to find the relationship between dental and mental health.

Kamlesh Bakshi