The poor mental health of the population has been on the decline, especially since the pandemic sent people into isolation and also the pressures of social media<\/a> having an impact on how people perceive themselves. <\/span><\/p>\n Recent studies have shown that\u00a0<\/span>1 in 5 people<\/span><\/a>\u00a0have experienced suicidal thoughts, which is a staggering amount considering the lack of conversations that are held regarding self-harm and mental health amongst the people around us. <\/span><\/p>\n With this, we tend to see experiences of anxiety and depression<\/a>, which ultimately manifests themselves into poor self-care and dental hygiene habits. <\/span><\/p>\n This lack of motivation to look after ourselves is what ultimately can drive our oral hygiene<\/a> into dangerous states, much like our mental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As mentioned, oral and mental health can work cohesively; therefore,, if we see poor mental health in individuals, we might expect their mental health to deteriorate.<\/span><\/p>\n The state of oral health can be a result of many things, such as genetics, or the poor habits might be self-inflicted, such as heavy smoking. This smoking can ultimately lead to gum disease and stained teeth, leading to a lack of self-confidence and ultimately inducing feelings of anxiety and depression.<\/span><\/p>\n On the other side of things, people with anxiety are susceptible to grinding their teeth, leading to reduced enamel and possible displacement of their teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n People who are trapped in this cycle often continue these habits as a self-soothing method when in reality, they are worsening both their oral and mental health. <\/span><\/p>\n However, things do not always have to be so glum, as they can be improved as much as they can deteriorate.<\/span><\/p>\n If you are someone who is experiencing spells of anxiety and depression, the lethargic feeling of not wanting to do your normal daily tasks will feel familiar. <\/span><\/p>\n This will likely result in you skipping on brushing your teeth<\/a>. Also, anxiety might leave you not wanting to closely inspect your teeth for problems, which can lead to much more serious problems developing further down the line.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are just a few telltale signs that signal you need to seek help for your oral and mental health:<\/span><\/p>\n Missing oral hygiene –\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Skipping on brushing your teeth is a sign that your mental and oral health is deteriorating. Falling out of this habit due to a lack of motivation is a common side effect of poor mental health. <\/span><\/p>\n This also might be associated with other behaviors, such as not showering and not cleaning your environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Avoiding smiling –\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>If the insecurities associated with your oral appearance stop you from smiling in social settings, you risk worsening your mental and oral health.<\/span><\/p>\n Anxiety about visiting the dentist –\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Avoiding any visits to the dentist<\/a> due to dental anxiety<\/a> and insecurity is a sign that you are falling into a bad place. As much as the dentist is not an enjoyable experience for a lot of people, it should not be avoided altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n Binge eating\/purging –\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>A lot of mental health problems can also manifest themselves into binge eating problems, which ultimately can severely affect your oral health. <\/span><\/p>\n Purging food is especially dangerous for people who develop bulimia, as the acids that are in our stomachs can break down enamel which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you are suffering from poor mental health and oral hygiene, you can begin to improve them today. Here are just a few of the habits you might consider implementing:<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Oral Health Says About Mental Health\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Telltale Signs You Are At Risk\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
How You Can Begin To Manage Both\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Maintain A Healthy Diet<\/span><\/h3>\n