A recent study has found a link between poor dental health and depression. Researchers from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia performed a study on more than 10,000 participants between the ages of 20 and 75 who live in the United States.
What they found was that the more dental conditions a person had, the likelihood of depression was increased. Depression is an inflammatory disorder, so sources of inflammation - a bad diet, being overweight and other medical conditions - can contribute to processes that trigger mental conditions. Poor dental health is also a source of inflammation, although up until now, it hadn't been thoroughly studied as a contributor to depression.
Sixty-one percent of participants who reported cases of depression also reported having soreness and aches in the mouth within the past year. More than 50 percent of participants considered their own teeth to be in fair to poor conditions.
Although the results to the study are very interesting, it is just the beginning in research into this important topic. While a link was found, researchers cannot explain exactly why. What we do know is that oral health is important for mental health; therefore, patients should be sure to maintain good oral health practices, and report to their dentist at the first sign of a problem.
Healthy teeth will make you feel so good on the outside and inside - you won't be able to stop smiling!
Courtesy of Medical Xpress
