By Sushant Agarwal
Published on | Jul 02, 2025
People with serious mental illness are far more likely to suffer from gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss.
People with serious mental illness are up to 4 times more likely to have gum disease & nearly 3 times more likely to lose all their teeth due to decay
People with schizophrenia have ~8 more missing/damaged teeth than average, study shows. Poor oral health leads to avoidable hospital stays.
Bad oral health isn’t just about looks—it can affect how you eat, work, socialise, and feel about yourself, often leading to emotional distress.
Mental health issues can reduce motivation for oral care, while dental problems can worsen anxiety or depression—creating a tough, self-feeding cycle.
Bacteria from gum disease can cause inflammation, raising risks of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline.
Isolation, unemployment, and housing issues make both mental and oral health worse. And dental pain or stigma can block chances of employment, too.
Many people with mental illness feel intense anxiety or past trauma that makes it hard to seek dental care—even when they know they need help.
Some psychiatric drugs reduce saliva or increase sugar cravings, making tooth decay worse. Yet few patients are warned about these effects.
People interviewed reported shame, isolation & being judged during dental visits. One participant said poor teeth "drive me to become more isolated."
Limited Medicare dental coverage leads to delayed care, often resulting in tooth removal among those with mental illness.
Breaking the cycle needs holistic care, more government funding, and strong coordination between dental, mental health, and community support systems.