A new study looked at how depression and oral health are connected in American adults. Researchers found that people with moderate to severe depression symptoms were more likely to need dental care but couldn’t get it, experience tooth pain that interfered with work, and rate their mouth health as poor. This research suggests that depression and dental problems are linked, and doctors and dentists should work together to help patients. Understanding this connection could help create better treatment plans that address both mental and oral health at the same time.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether people with depression are more likely to have dental problems and difficulty getting dental care
  • Who participated: American adults from 2017 to early 2020 who answered questions about their mental health and dental health as part of a national health survey
  • Key finding: Adults with moderate to severe depression were about 2-3 times more likely to have untreated dental needs, tooth pain affecting work, and poor mouth health compared to those without depression
  • What it means for you: If you’re struggling with depression, you may be at higher risk for dental problems. It’s important to prioritize dental care and talk to your doctor or dentist about how depression might be affecting your oral health. However, this study shows a connection, not necessarily that depression causes dental problems.

The Research Details

Researchers used information collected from a large national health survey conducted between 2017 and March 2020. They looked at data from American adults who answered questions about their depression symptoms using a standard screening tool called the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, which asks nine questions about mood and feelings. They also gathered information about whether people needed dental care but couldn’t get it, whether tooth pain affected their job, and how they rated their own mouth health. The researchers then analyzed this information to see if there was a connection between depression severity and dental health problems.

This approach is important because it looks at real-world data from thousands of Americans rather than just a small group in a lab. By studying people’s actual experiences, researchers can understand how depression and dental health are connected in everyday life. The study also controlled for other factors that might affect dental health, like smoking, alcohol use, education level, and health insurance status, which helps make the findings more reliable.

This study used data from a well-respected national health survey that represents the general American population. The researchers adjusted their analysis for many other factors that could influence the results, which strengthens the findings. However, because this is a cross-sectional study (a snapshot in time), it shows a connection between depression and dental problems but cannot prove that one causes the other. The study was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, so results may not reflect current conditions.

What the Results Show

Adults with moderate to severe depression symptoms were significantly more likely to have needed dental care in the past year but couldn’t get it—about twice as likely compared to those without depression. They were also about 2.6 times more likely to experience tooth pain that interfered with their job performance. Additionally, people with moderate to severe depression were more likely to rate their mouth health negatively, though this finding was slightly less certain statistically. These findings remained true even after researchers accounted for other important factors like age, sex, race, education, insurance status, smoking, and other health conditions.

The study found that the connection between depression and dental problems was consistent across different types of dental issues. People with depression struggled not just with having bad teeth, but also with accessing dental care and dealing with the real-world consequences of tooth problems, like difficulty working. This suggests that depression affects multiple aspects of oral health, from the condition of teeth to the ability to get treatment.

Previous research has suggested that mental health and physical health are connected, but this study provides specific evidence about the depression-dental health link in a large, representative American population. The findings align with other research showing that people with depression often struggle to access healthcare and manage their health conditions. This study adds important detail by showing that dental health is particularly affected and that tooth pain can interfere with daily functioning.

The study only shows that depression and dental problems are connected at one point in time; it doesn’t prove that depression causes dental problems or vice versa. The data was collected before the pandemic, so current patterns might be different. The study relied on people’s self-reports about their health, which might not always be completely accurate. Additionally, the study didn’t include information about the specific types of dental problems or the severity of depression treatment people were receiving.

The Bottom Line

If you have depression, prioritize regular dental checkups and cleanings (moderate confidence). Talk to your doctor or dentist about how depression might be affecting your oral health (moderate confidence). If you’re having trouble affording dental care, ask your dentist about payment plans or community health centers that offer reduced-cost services (moderate confidence). Don’t wait to address tooth pain, as it can affect your ability to work and your quality of life (moderate confidence).

This research is especially important for people with depression, their family members, and healthcare providers including both mental health professionals and dentists. It’s also relevant for public health officials planning community health programs. People without depression can still benefit from good oral health habits, but this study specifically highlights why those with depression need extra support and attention to dental care.

Improvements in dental health won’t happen overnight. If you start addressing dental problems and managing depression, you might notice reduced tooth pain within a few weeks to months. Better overall mouth health typically takes several months of consistent care. The most important thing is to start taking action now rather than waiting.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track dental appointments and tooth pain incidents weekly. Note the date of each dental visit, any pain experienced (on a scale of 1-10), and whether pain affected your ability to work or eat. Also track your depression symptom severity using the same scale you discuss with your doctor.
  • Set a reminder to schedule your next dental appointment this week. If cost is a barrier, use the app to research and save information about low-cost dental clinics in your area. Create a daily habit of reporting any tooth pain and mood symptoms to identify patterns between your depression and dental health.
  • Over the next 3 months, monitor whether addressing dental problems correlates with improvements in your overall mood and functioning. Track both dental health metrics (pain, appointments kept) and depression symptoms (mood, energy, work performance) to see if improvements in one area support improvements in the other. Share this data with both your dentist and mental health provider.

This research shows a connection between depression and dental problems, but it does not prove that one causes the other. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical or dental advice. If you are experiencing depression or dental problems, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider or dentist. If you are having thoughts of self-harm, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.