Can oral care improve mental health?
Following the recent spotlight on mental health, professionals have been sharing top tips to improve your mood when you’re feeling down. Alongside more predictable solutions, such as working out and getting fresh air, the list included regular brushing and flossing. Whilst this may sound surprising, studies suggest that depression is directly linked to periodontal disease (advanced gum problems).
Individuals with depression are more at risk of periodontal disease due to the mental condition’s hampering of the body’s immune system. According to London Smiling’s Dr Uchenna Okoye, techniques to help prevent gum disease include regular trips to the dentist as well as daily brushing and flossing. This will also give people more attractive smiles, boosting their self-confidence. Losing teeth can have a significant impact on self-esteem and interaction with others, and as gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss, it is important to prevent it.
Other tips included on the list in order to improve mental health were leaving the house, communication with friends, meditation, listening to music and reading.
Professionals also went on to recommend decreasing sugary snacks, as they cause unpredictable spikes and falls in energy levels, advice that has also been offered by dentists in the past. Despite sugary foods giving quick energy boosts, this also leads to a sudden low period when blood sugar is low, causing people to feel lethargic. This can result in craving more sugar, leading to an unbreakable cycle.
A main contributing factor to the recent popularity of cosmetic dentistry and adult orthodontic treatment is the link between attractive smiles and high self-confidence, as proved by numerous recent studies. When you are pleased with your teeth, you are more likely to smile, whereas being self-conscious about them can result in social awkwardness and difficulty in dating or employment scenarios.
