{"id":111,"date":"2026-04-10T01:20:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T01:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.burncoatfamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=111"},"modified":"2026-04-23T05:36:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T05:36:02","slug":"gum-disease-and-mental-health-are-they-connected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.burncoatfamilydental.com\/blog\/2026\/04\/10\/gum-disease-and-mental-health-are-they-connected\/","title":{"rendered":"Gum Disease and Your Mental Health: Are They Connected?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nowadays, many people are trying to take care of their mental health. They might do things that support their psyche, but did you know that treating your smile right can be helpful? It might seem like an odd connection, but dental problems, like gum disease<\/a>, can affect your mind over time. Here\u2019s what you need to know about this dental problem and your mental well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Periodontal, or gum, disease is an infection in the soft tissues of your mouth. The initial stage of it is called gingivitis, and it causes inflammation, noticeable redness, and bleeding when brushing or flossing, to name a few. Any damage done here can often be reversed with proper treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this condition is left untreated, it can advance into periodontitis. At this point, you may notice gum recession and jawbone or tooth loss. Harm done cannot be fixed at this point, but your dentist will work to make sure you avoid further complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Are My Gum and Mental Health Linked?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Based on the above, it might seem like gum disease only affects the mouth, but recent research may have proved otherwise! A study by the University of Birmingham in 2021 looked at over 64,000 patient records with a history of this condition. Close to 61,000 had gingivitis, while over 3,000 had periodontitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These were then compared to 250,000 patients with no gum disease records. They noticed a trend and found that those with a history of this condition had a 37% higher risk of mental ill-health, like anxiety or depression. In fact, the study\u2019s co-first author. Dr. Joht Singh Chandan said that poor dental health can lower the quality of life, especially that of mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can I Do to Prevent Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since gum disease can affect your mind, you might want to do your best to protect yourself from this dental problem. Thankfully, by following these simple tips, you can do your best to avoid it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n