Australians With Mental Illness Face Greater Oral Health Challenges
Australians living with serious mental illness face higher rates of gum disease, tooth decay, and complete tooth loss. Research shows they are four times more likely to have gum disease compared to the general population. They are also nearly three times more likely to lose all their teeth from oral health conditions. Around 800,000 Australians live with serious illnesses, including major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Those living with schizophrenia average eight more decayed, missing, or filled teeth than others. The data reflects a national concern linking illness and deteriorating dental health.
Six Links Between Depression and Oral Health
Hospital Admissions and Health Impacts Rising
Dental conditions have become a major reason for preventable hospital admissions among people with serious mental illness. Oral disease not only impairs basic functions like eating or speaking but also affects employment and social interactions. Oral infections can lead to inflammation across the body and contribute to long-term health conditions. These include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cognitive issues, and some cancers.
The burden of dental treatment, both financially and emotionally, weighs heavily on this vulnerable population.
Shared Risk Factors Drive the Connection
Mental illness and poor oral health often share underlying causes. Factors such as housing instability, unemployment, and social isolation affect both health areas. Financial hardship and limited access to dental care worsen outcomes. People unable to afford regular check-ups may develop advanced dental problems requiring complex treatment.
Unemployment increases the risk of poor dental health while also being reinforced by visible dental disease. Stigma, pain, and low self-esteem can all prevent job seekers from securing work.
Mental health symptoms such as low motivation make daily oral hygiene practices difficult. Anxiety and trauma can make dental visits distressing or even unmanageable. Some medications used to treat mental illness reduce saliva flow. This weakens the mouth’s natural defences and can raise sugar cravings, further risking decay.
Young People With Mental Illness Report Significant Dental Impact
A recent study revealed the emotional and social costs of poor oral health among young people with mental illness. Participants described feelings of shame and embarrassment that discouraged them from smiling or interacting socially.
One participant explained, “[poor oral health is] not only [about] the physical aspects of restricting how you eat, but it’s also about your mental health in terms of your self-esteem, your self-confidence, and basic wellbeing, which sort of drives me to become more isolated.”
Another added, “for me, it was that serious fear of – God my teeth are looking really crap, and in the past they’ve [dental practitioners] asked, ‘Hey, you’ve missed this spot; what’s happening?’. How do I explain to them, hey, I’ve had some really shitty stuff happening and I have a very serious episode of depression?”
These personal accounts highlight how oral and mental health conditions feed into each other.
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Education Program Shows Promising Results
Another study trialled an online oral health education program aimed at young adults with mental illness. The program succeeded in raising awareness and improving attitudes toward dental care. Participants reported improved knowledge and more positive outlooks toward oral hygiene.
Improved oral health can lift mental wellbeing and quality of life. However, systemic barriers still block access to care.
Cost and Policy Gaps Delay Dental Treatment
Most Australians receive limited Medicare support for dental services. People with mental illness often delay treatment until conditions worsen, requiring extractions and other invasive procedures. Financial pressure combined with health challenges creates a cycle of neglect and deterioration.
Early intervention through accessible services could prevent serious outcomes.
Call for Holistic, Integrated Care Model
Experts call for a national shift toward integrated care models for mental and oral health. They recommend training mental health workers to discuss dental concerns with clients. At the same time, dental professionals should receive training to support patients with psychiatric conditions.
Improved collaboration across health, peer support, and informal care networks is essential. Expanded government funding is necessary to support prevention and early intervention efforts.
Health services must include both physical and mental wellbeing, treating oral health as part of a broader picture. Promoting oral care for those with mental illness could reduce hospital admissions, support recovery, and improve lives.
