Why Taking Care Of Your Oral Health Is Important For Your Mental Health

June 23, 2020 - By Bruce Michaelson
Why Taking Care Of Your Oral Health Is Important For Your Mental Health

Your mental health is affected by several factors that can be traced to both internal as well as external aspects of your life that affect your wellbeing. Your oral health is one of the intrinsic factors that significantly impact your wellbeing as proven by studies conducted over the years. By taking sufficient care of your oral cavity, you can better control your mental health and stay content in life. The following factors have been accounted for as the most relevant features where your mental health can be improved with simultaneous care of your oral health.

The Dental Visits

Many individuals associate a visit to a dentist’s office with a stressful and anxious time due to the fear of pain that any procedure will entail. In addition to this, people also fear what a diagnosis can reveal about their health and the ramifications this will have on their wellbeing and life as a whole. This induces a response in the body that is similar to experiencing a frightful moment in real life. This leads to the mental association wherein any dental clinic is henceforth seen as a place that ignites a memory of fear and unease. 

Eventually, this can cause anxiety to linger in the body long after the visit and lead to mental health complications such as chronic anxiety. To avoid such a fearful experience, you can take care of your oral health from the very beginning to ensure that the number of visits to a dentist is reduced significantly in number. This will also help your body stay stress-free for a longer period and provide relief and comfort rather than anxiety on the reduced number of visits to a dental hygienist.

The Stigma and Norm

Poor oral health can lead to consequences that affect the aesthetic look of your teeth and smile and can lead to possible insecurities to dwell in the mind of any individual. In society, the stigma of having perfect teeth is an expectation that is relevant to all individuals. This norm of having pearly white teeth that are straight and clean to the common eye has led to such insecurities becoming more standardized in society. 

Any person that defies these norms is considered to be an outlier and faces plenty of mental implications that are harmful to the mind as well as the body. Therefore, by maintaining good oral hygiene, you can avoid such complexes that destroy your self-confidence. You can build a stronger mental balance by building on a good smile given when oral routines are followed regularly. 

The Reverse Impact

Unstable mental health is detrimental to your oral health. When your mental health is experiencing difficulties, your brain is likely to create urges that will make you feel better about your current situation. This can lead to overeating or not eating enough to increase either the bacteria or acidity in your mouth, respectively. 

To avoid such consequences, you can receive medication and assistance from medical professionals to solve any prevalent dilemmas in life and save your oral health from worsening over time. By keeping a good hold on your mental health, your oral health can also be protected, in turn increasing the lifetime of your teeth considerably. 

To gain the medical attention of a professional dentist who can diagnose your oral problems, visit our American Dental Clinic, and meet with our expert staff today.

Dubai: +971 4 344 0668 Abu Dhabi: +971 2 681 2921
info@americandentalclinic.com