You may never hear about the connection between oral health and mental health. People with mental health conditions are likely to suffer dental problems. If your oral health is intact, it boosts your overall health and wellness.
If you have some mental disorder like anxiety or stress, you adopt an unhealthy lifestyle. You start smoking, and your life falls in disarray. You become careless about your diet. It impacts your dental health negatively, and your teeth bear the brunt of your choices.
Choices of mentally disturbed people and their impact on oral health
Unhealthy diet
Those who go through mental health problems lose their appetite. They also don’t make healthy eating choices and eat food at random times. They also increase their sugar intake and drink sugared beverages. It makes them feel well for the time being. But it damages their oral health. They are more likely to have tooth decay and cavities.
Those who eat an unbalanced diet lack calcium in their body. This insufficiency of calcium weakens the enamel. It exposes the inner layer of teeth, which results in erosion of the tooth surface and discoloration.
Anxiety
People with mental health problems feel anxious while visiting a dentist. They would rather have this situation avoided. Staying away from a dentist for a long time negatively impacts their oral health and wellness.
Such people also become more sensitive to pain. It strips them of their endurance. They prefer to avoid situations that push them out of their comfort zone.
Drugs
People with depression and anxiety start using alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. These are not just harmful to their physical health. These choices are also highly detrimental to their oral health and wellness.
Excessive smoking and drinking damage teeth and cause mouth cancer.
Ways to improve your dental health
Good oral health is vital for excellent overall health. Below are the practices that can improve your oral health:
- You should brush your teeth regularly. It removes the food particles that prevent several dental problems.
- Make flossing a part of your oral care routine. Flossing is compulsory to avoid cavities and enjoy healthy gums.
- Choose a brush that best suits your teeth. Brushing with a soft-bristled brush keeps the teeth healthy without damaging your gums.
- Cleaning your tongue is also a must practice to have good oral health. Otherwise, a lot of untreated bacteria make your breath unpleasant.
- Reduce your sugar intake. Sugar rich diet contributes to the growth of bacteria that leads to cavity formation.
- Eat a diet rich in nutrition like fresh fruits and vegetables. It not only boosts your overall health but also cleanses your teeth.
- Give up bad habits like smoking and drinking too much coffee. These cause tooth discolouration and weaken the enamel.
- Visit your dentist consistently. It ensures that any dental health problem gets timely treatment.
How can you improve your mental health?
If you face mild anxiety, you can improve this situation without treatment. But if you experience severe depression, medicinal therapy becomes compulsory. In any case, the following activities can boost your mental health:
Physical exercise
Physical activity relaxes your body and tranquillizes your mind. So, engaging in some physical activity is essential if you have anxiety or depression.
Give up isolation
When you stay isolated, horrifying thoughts keep invading you. You feel defeated and lost. You lose the motivation to do anything productive. By becoming a part of a good group of people, you feel alive and encouraged. You feel the urge to live with greater intensity.
It positively impacts your mental health and helps you grow.