If you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, it can feel impossible to take care of yourself or even perform small daily tasks. That includes taking care of your mouth. Here are some ways that your mental health can affect your dental health:

• Neglecting dental care. Mood disorders can make it difficult to maintain an at-home care routine. You might be too tired or unmotivated to brush and floss daily. This can result in gum disease and tooth decay.
• Feeling Anxious. Many people suffer from some form of dental phobia. As a result, this can prevent them from seeing their dentist regularly. Irregular dental visits can have a severe impact on dental health.
• Eating a poor diet. You might consume more sugary foods and beverages. You may also rely on convenience foods that lack the nutrients necessary to maintain good dental health for your teeth and gums.
• Abusing substances. Oftentimes, people seek relief through drugs or alcohol. Both have adverse effects on dental health. Many of these substances can severely damage your teeth and even cause tooth loss.³
• Developing eating disorders. If you have bulimia, your teeth can erode from the acidity in vomit. This can affect the overall health of your mouth.
• Suffering from chronic pain. You may experience face or mouth pain. This can include pain in your jaw or a sensation that your mouth is burning. In some cases, this pain can also be a result of grinding your teeth from stress or anxiety.
• Taking certain medications. Antidepressants, antipsychotics and other medications used to treat mood disorders may cause side effects in your mouth. This can include dry mouth, which is a result of reduced salvia flow.

If you think you might be experiencing problems with your mental and dental health, talk to your primary care physician (PCP) and your dentist. Your PCP can refer you to a licensed expert to help you manage your mental health. Your dentist can help determine what is causing problems in your mouth and provide treatment options.

Also, be sure to complete your MyDentalAssessment and share it with both your doctor and dentist. You might be surprised to learn how your lifestyle, medical conditions and health history can impact your dental health.

Click here to continue reading this month’s United Concordia Dental Wellness Connection Newsletter.