Your oral health impacts every aspect of your well-being. Oral health conditions have been linked with systemic health conditions. An example of this is how an oral infection can lead to heart valve issues. Although it isn't as widely publicized, oral health does have a significant impact on mental health.
Dental Anxiety
When your teeth aren't in prime condition, it can be embarrassing. This feeling can make you less likely to want to visit your dentist. Such dental anxiety can make it hard for you to see your dentist. Instead of hiding, you need to share your feelings with your dentist. At GT Dental Toronto, we've worked with many patients with dental anxiety. We have the tools and techniques to help you overcome dental anxiety.
Social Anxiety
On a related note, another area of mental health that is impacted by oral health is social health. Bad breath and discoloured teeth can make it more challenging to be fully social. Having fewer conversations with others can socially isolate you. This can become an unrelenting cycle.
Ill-fitting dentures or gaps in your teeth can also make it more difficult to talk properly. This directly hampers your ability to communicate your needs with others. Teeth that are in poor condition also make eating a challenge, so you're less likely to enjoy a meal with others.
Depression
If left unchecked, such social isolation can lead to depression. If you're elderly and have oral health conditions such as dental carries, missing teeth, or dry mouth, you're more likely to experience depression. This depression was not entirely from social isolation but from poor health itself.
Improve Your Mental Health Through Better Dental Care
At GT Dental in Toronto, we perform a variety of services to improve the look and function of your teeth. Some of these services include dental crowns, bridges, and fillings. In addition to these corrective procedures, routine dental examinations at our dental clinic in Toronto are critical to maintaining good dental health. Contact us today to book an appointment.
