How a bad hygiene habit might increase your risk of depression

You really can feel down in the mouth.We tend to think of depression as something that exists in the mind, but the reality is that it affects the whole body — and the whole body can have an impact on depression, including your teeth and gums.“Poor oral hygiene can lead to gum disease.Gum disease creates chronic inflammation,” Dr.

Jason Auerbach, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, told The Post.“Chronic inflammation has been associated with a number of health conditions, including depression.”People refer to the mouth as a gateway to the body — it’s where fuel enters to keep the body running, of course, but it can also be an entry point for undesirables, like certain bacteria.Untreated infections in the mouth open the door for that bacteria to go directly into the bloodstream, potentially leading to life-threatening sepsis.

These infections can also cause chronic inflammation, which is linked to a number of health conditions, including lowered immunity and heart disease.Oral health is also inextricably linked to mental health.Patients who are struggling with oral health often change the way they think and act.

Auerbach says patients may stop smiling in photos, start covering their mouths, and stop speaking up in meetings because they’re self-conscious about their teeth.“The connection [between mental and oral health] is definitely stronger than most people think,” Auerbach said.“The reality is the body doesn’t divide itself into neat little compartments the way people perceive it does.”Research shows that people with common mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD) have higher rates of tooth decay and tooth than the general population.

The reason is not only a lack of daily care at home.One study showed that over 65% of people dealing with poor mental health did not seek dental care.While not brushing your teeth twice a day and skipping flossing and dental check-up won’t directly lead to depression, it certainly doesn�...